Biography
I was born in California in 1955, and migrated to Australia in 1972. Art and drawing have always been my main interest, as well as camping, bush walking and bird watching. I studied Graphic Design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Diploma of Arts) and have worked as a Graphic Illustrator and Designer for over 20 years. My main employment in the 1980's and 90's was in the magazine and print media. As Art Director for Your Garden Magazine and New Idea Magazine I had the opportunity to create illustrative work in a variety of mediums, both traditional and electronic.
Years working in print media as an illustrator and designer have taught me to tell my story in a direct and simple way. I find the immediacy of pencil work gives me that direct connection with my subject. In each drawing I do, I try to tell something about the animal or scene that I find compulsive or attractive. I like to get into the ‘feel’ of the subject if I can. I think it is essential that the personality and character of the subject must shine through, the animal must be believable as an individual in its own right. I would like my audience to relate to the subject and its personality through my drawing. In this way I would hope to inspire in the viewer the same delight and excitement I have for the subject matter.
Awards
Highly Commended: 2011 Wangaratta Art ShowCommended: 2011 AGRA Summer show & Summmer AAL
Best Other Work on Paper: Dromana Rortary Art Show 2011
Finalist: Mortimore Prize Dubbo, ‘Drawing Section’ 2011
Commended, Alexandra Easter Art Show, 2011
Highly Commended, Bright Autumn Art Exhibition, 2011
Best drawing of subject of North Eastern Victoria, Wangaratta art show 2010
Commended, 2010 A.G.R.A. Spring Exhibition
Highly Commended, Dromana Art Show 2009
Finalist: Mortimore Prize, Dubbo 2009
Highly Commended, Chelsea Rotary Art Show 2009
Highly Recommended, 2009 Corowa Art Show
First Prize, Section IV, 2008 Leongatha Rotary Art Show
Commended, 2008 Hamilton North Rothary Art Show
Highly Commended, 2008 W.A.S.A. Exhibition
Highly Commended, 2008 A.G.R.A Spring Exhibition
Finalist: Mortimore Prize, Dubbo 2008
Highly Commended, 2008 Bayside Art Show
Best Other Medium under $1,000, 2008 Mount View Art Exhibition
Highly Commended, 2007 Wangaratta Art Exhibition
Finalist: Mortimore Prize, Dubbo 2007
Highly Commended, 2007 Chelsea Rotary Art Show (Drawing section)
Selected Entrant at the 2007 Dominique Segan Drawing Award, Castelmaine State Festival
Highly Commended, 2006 A.G.R.A Summer Exhibition
Highly Commended, 2006 Hamilton North Rotary Art Show
2006 Geoff Douglas Memorial Award WASA 'Wild Awards'
Highly Commended, 2006 A.G.R.A Spring Exhibition
Best Original Drawing, 2006 Bayside Art show
Commended, 2006 Victor Harbour Art Show
Best Drawing, 2005 Hamilton North Rotary Art Show
Commended, 2005 A.G.R.A Autumn Exhibition
Selected Entrant at the 2005 Dominque Segan Drawing Award, Castlemaine State Festival
Commended, 2004 A.G.R.A Winter Exhibition
Gold Award, 2004 Pakenham/Cardina Shire Art Exhibition (Yakerboo)
Commended, 2004 A.G.R.A. Summer Exhibition
Highly Commended, 2003 Warragul Rotary Art Show
Highly Commended, 2003 Chelsea Rotary Art Show (Drawing section)
Selected Entrant at the 2003 Dominque Segan Drawing Award, Castlemaine State Festival
Commended, 2002 A.G.R.A Summer Exhibition
Highly Commended, 2002 Dromana Rotary Art Show
Honourable Mention, 2002 Chelsea Rotary Art Show
Best Other Medium, 2002 Dromana Autumn Art Show
Highly Commended, 2001 Wildlife Art Society Annual Exhibition
Gold Medal, 13th National Print Awards
Silver Medal, 12th National Print Awards
Silver Medal, 11th National Print Awards
Bronze Medal, 8th National Print Awards
Artist Residency:
Fraser Island, June 2011
Fraser Island, January 2010
Exhibitions:
Selected Entrant, Mortimore Prize, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
2011: A.G.R.A Drawing Exhibition
2010: A.G.R.A. Drawing Exhibition
June 2009: A.G.R.A. Drawing Exhibition
July 2008: ‘Drawn Together’ KAG Art Gallery (with students
of Linda Weil)
April 2008: A.G.R.A. Drawing Exhibition
Oct-November 2006: WASA ‘Wild Awards’ Selected and Juried
Exhibition
May 2006: A.G.R.A. Drawing Exhibition
June 2005: Eltham/Wiregrass Gallery Wildlife Art Exhibition
May 2005: A.G.R.A. Drawing Exhibition
May 2004: A.G.R.A. Inaugural Drawing Exhibition
June 2004: Eltham/Wiregrass Gallery Wildlife Art Exhibition
April 2004: ‘Drawn In’, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery (with Janet
Matthews)
Published Work:
'Drawing Lifelike Subjects' - Step by Step Studio - Co-Author - Walter
Foster Publishing, July 2009
'The Art of Drawing Animals' Co-Author - Walter Foster Publishing September
2008
‘Drawing Made Easy – Realistic Animals’ – Walter
Foster Publishing, May, 2008
Victorian Lifestyle Property - Traditional and electronic illustration
published 2002 - 2004
‘Just Like Me’ - Electronic/digital illustrations –
A Christian Education children’s book, Vital Publications, 1999
Your Garden Magazine - Traditional Watercolour and electronic illustration
published on a monthly basis 1992-98
Societies
Queensland Wildilfe Art Society Incorporated - member
Grampians Wildlife Art Society - founder member
Mentone-Mordialloc Art
Group - teacher and member
Victorian Artists Society - member
Australian Guild of Realist Artists - member
Bird Observer’s Club of Australia - member
FOTZ (Friends of the Zoos) - member
WRAP (Wildlife Rescue And Protection) - member