Biography

I have recently retired from teaching to the beautiful seaside town of Bermagui on the far south coast of New south Wales. In my sixty year old corrugated iron shed I am able to synthesise my art practice and life experiences into a visual response to the natural beauty of this place. The Swimmer Series and the accompanying collection of watercolours is the result of a new engagement with the sea and landscape of the far south coast of NSW.

Over the past forty years I have painted and drawn whatever was nearby, in pencil, watercolour, acrylics and more recently in oils. I have read anything that I could on painting and visited the most significant galleries in Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Austria to immerse myself in art. I began to travel regularly in the early 90's and soon developed an addiction to visiting the great collections of Europe. Since then I have travelled regularly and have returned Europe often. I have travelled to over thirty countries including in recent years Mexico, the United States, Greece, Croatia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The process of travel is complemented by extensive diarising and documentation through photography, drawing and painting. These visual and text based reflections inform my practice, appearing directly sometimes but mostly acting as the context for thinking about technique, mark making and composition.

A brief experience in the eighties in a fine arts painting course and some design education at various stages of my teacher training make up my formal background. Most of my arts education is a result of my travels, reading and practical investigation of technique. I have experimented in watercolour and acrylic painting, first attempting traditional methods and then developing my own approach. I have returned to oils recently, and I am enjoying learning about this challenging medium.

When visiting the museums of Europe and Australia I have been drawn to the works of a wide variety artists. Turner, Monet, Van Gogh, Whistler and Hopper were early influences. Lately artists such as Mark Rothko and Richard Diebenkorn have absorbed my attention. Locally I am inspired by Philip Wolfhagen and Tim Allen.

I have been involved in several group exhibitions including annual teachers exhibitions held in the Department of Education offices in Sydney between 2007 and 2011. I curated and contributed to, a small group exhibition at Breewood Fine Arts in Western Sydney in 2011. Since that time my professional life has limited any opportunity to exhibit my work.

My need to record life through image and mark making has continued until the present.