I paint vibrant light- filled Australian landscapes and I am drawn especially to the shifting moods of the bush and the urban environment. I am fascinated by those fleeting moments when light changes everything-when shadows stretch, colours intensify, and familiar places reveal something unexpected. It is this sense of transformation, atmosphere and discovery that continues to inspire my work.
Working in oils, I build each painting in layers, creating depth, texture and a strong physical presence on the canvas. My response is shaped not only by the landscape itself, but also by the abstract forms, raw surfaces and quiet rhythms found within both nature and the built environment. My aim is to capture not just the appearance of a place, but also its feeling-its light, mood and emotional resonance.
A love of nature and the experience of walking, observing and painting outdoors have always been central to my practice. Plein air studies allow me to connect directly with a location and deepen my understanding of its elements, helping me interpret and unify them later in the studio.
Throughout my work, I seek a balance between what is clearly expressed and what is quietly implied. I like to leave space for viewers to bring their own memories, emotions and interpretations to each painting, allowing the work to become a shared experience rather than a fixed statement.
My early training included study at the National Art School and later with renowned portrait painter Graeme Inson in Sydney during the late 1970s and early 1980s. I went on to complete a Visual Arts Degree at Newcastle University, as well as a teaching degree. Over the past thirty years, I have taught in both private and public schools and conducted workshops for art societies throughout New South Wales.
During my career, I have received more than 60 awards in art exhibitions across Australia and have exhibited widely in respected galleries through solo and group exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Canberra and Newport News, Virginia, USA. My paintings are represented in corporate, council and private collections, including the Commonwealth Bank collection at Martin Place, Sydney, as well as in overseas collections.
My work has been influenced by the earlier Australian painters of the Heidelberg School, particularly Arthur Streeton and Charles Conder, and by contemporary landscape artists including Richard Schmid and Kathryn Stats. Above all, I remain committed to painting as an ongoing journey- one of observation, interpretation and continual growth.
If you are wanting something special painted for you, I also do commission paintings.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey so far and I hope you enjoy viewing my paintings.
Best wishes
Peter Butler