I am a self-taught artist based in Tasmania. I prefer to paint from life and outdoors (en plein air), a genre made famous by the French Impressionists. Despite the challenges of plein air painting – fickle weather and curious passers-by, I enjoy capturing the light and life in the Tasmanian landscape.
My work has been described as – ‘An easy, loose style with a lovely luminosity rarely seen these days’ (Joerg Andersch). Landscape work is completed on location, with only minor adjustments back in the studio. My subjects are diverse – landscapes, seascapes and urbanscapes often with figurative content, including portraiture. Whatever the subject, working from life is a feature of my work. I gain inspiration from artists such as Streeton, Sargent, Munnings, Hannaford, Ken Howard, Ken Knight and Howard Morgan.
I have exhibited and sold my paintings through galleries in Tasmania since the early 90s. I also do commissions. In 2021 I made the transition to full-time artist after a busy career of 36 years as an agronomist. My work has received recognition through awards, including:
- Finalist in the prestigious Alice Bale Portraiture 2007 and Travelling Scholarship 2018 Awards
- Finalist in the Lloyd Rees Art Award 2017 and finalist in the Henry Jones Art Award 2021
- I have been twice overall winner of the Art Society of Tasmania Annual Award in 2015 and 2020 and overall winner of the Tasmanian ‘Art on Show’ Award in 2017