Yvonne’s Biography.
Yvonne West wanted to be an Artist from a young age but had no opportunities. However employment in pottery Decoration and Millinery satisfied her creative spirit. Marriage and four sons plus employment outside the home took care of the next thirty years.
In 1972 she with the family moved to the Hawkesbury Area and then in 1982 she had and opportunity to take some lessons in painting.
This was again interrupted. But she became really serious about it when taking painting and drawing certificates at Penrith TAFE in 1988.Since then she has attended many workshops with well known Artist/Tutors such as Margaret Wills; John Wilson; Robert Wade; Patrick Carroll etc; Her initial lessons were with Judy Brownlie in tonal oil painting and was also introduced to watercolours and Pastels.
Yvonne enjoys working in various mediums and especially en Plein-Air whenever possible as the Hawkesbury abounds with subject material such as old buildings and pastoral scenery. Although she loves these subjects she can move smoothly from traditional painting to Contemporary Abstract pieces which are suitable for modern décor.
Yvonne has been on many painting trips both overseas and in Australia painting scenes from areas such as the Red Centre and the Hammersley Ranges in W.A. She has recently been to Arkaroola doing a workshop with Peter Griffen and Paul Macklin.
Yvonne exhibits in the Royal Show each year as well as many country shows and district Agricultural Shows and has won more than 90 prizes concerning 1st,2nd, 3rd, and Highly commended and Commended awards, her most prestigiouss of which was 2nd in Still Life at the Royal Easter Show in 2012.
She is a Life member of Macquarie Towns Art Society and member of Nepean Art Society, and Hawkesbury Community Arts Workshop and therefore exhibits with these groups when they all have their various exhibititions. Her Two latest awards this year were Second in Watercolour at the Hawkesbury Show and Second in Acrylic at Penrith Agricultural Show. Her painting are in Public and Private collection bot here and overseas including the USA and Britain.