Guest Artists

Our Guest Artists

Marcel Desbiens (Director)

Marcel founded Bienarté (the Home of Brisbane Painting Classes) in 2005, after discovering considerable interest in his unique oil painting methods, developed through decades of study of the techniques of the Old Masters, such as Caravaggio, Rubens and Rembrandt.

Marcel's belief that anyone can paint, given appropriate instructions on the right tools, skills and techniques, led him to develop a series of classes in oil painting, from the foundations for absolute beginners, through to advanced techniques for those wanted to extend their skills and experience.

Over the years, these oil painting classes grew and Bienarté has now expanded to include an increasing variety of classes in different mediums, with an increasing number of award-winning artists delivering classes and workshops at the studio.

Marcel's passion for painting and his enormous in-depth knowledge for the medium of oil are clearly visible in his teaching and ongoing dedication to his own art.

Alvaro Castagnet (Watercolour)

Alvaro was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. His early interest in art was cultivated mainly by his father, who sent him to the National School of Art in Montevideo at a very young age where he was taught by Professor Esteban Garino. Castagnet carried on his formal education in art at the Fine Arts University, where Miguel Angel Pareja was his oil painting tutor.

Castagnet migrated to Australia in 1983, and lived there enjoying the cosmopolitan and forward-looking attitude of that country for 20 years. Alvaro is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English and currently lives in Montevideo, Uruguay. He has been holding solo exhibitions since 1985, and has been recognised with dozens of awards over the last 30 years.

He is the author of the out-of-print, “Watercolor Painting with Passion” , “Painting with Passion – Beyond Technique” & “Watercolour Masterclass” books. Alvaro is featured in innumerable art books, videos, DVDs and acclaimed international art publications.
His main studio is located in Montevideo, Uruguay. He lives with his wife, Ana Maria. Their 2 sons, live in Melbourne, Australia.

Andrew Bonneau (Drawing, Oil Painting)

Andrew Bonneau (born 1981) is an artist whose work reflects a deep sensitivity to the forms of nature and the subtlety of light, embodying many of the qualities of the European realist tradition.

Andrew earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at The National Art School in Sydney and later studied at both The Charlie Sheard Studio School and the Julian Ashton Art School.

To connect more fully to the disciplines of traditional drawing and painting, he studied for three years under Jacob Collins at the Grand Central Academy of Art in New York.

His subject matter ranges from portraits, figures, still life and landscapes, and his work is characterised by the unique perception and delicacy he brings to each of these genres.

Andrew has been selected as finalist for many national painting awards, including the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, the Percival National Portrait Prize, the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize and three times for the Moran Portrait Prize. He was recently selected as a finalist for the Archibald Prize for 2017 and has been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

Anita West (Acrylic)

Anita is an Australian artist living and working in Brisbane. Anita has maintained a professional art practice for over 30 years and her passion is painting the unique Australian landscape. She has had over 25 major solo exhibitions and paints an average of 15-25 new major paintings for each show. Even though she is considered prolific, every painting has a unique story and the quality of the work continues to grow. Her work is in the collections of public institutions, commercial businesses, regional galleries and private homes across the world. Anita has an enviable history of commissions and is represented in Sydney with Harvey Galleries (10 years) and Gallery One at Southport (6 years).

Anita’s paintings have won major awards, and her works have been selected in many art prizes across Australia. Anita’s reputation for her unique, technically proficient and beautifully layered landscapes are highly sought-after both as an investment and for private collections. Her career is continuing to gain recognition in the Australian Contemporary Market.

Annette Raff (Watercolour)

Annette has been a successful art practitioner and teacher for the past 23 years; teaching three weekly art classes (including the Royal Queensland Art Society) as well as conduct numerous workshops. She uses a combination of teaching processes directed at various learning styles, including practical demonstrations and lessons in process and media application, analysis of other artists' works both contemporary and historical, and class discussions.

“I have always been captivated by the creative process, intellectual challenge, and diversity of media application. I encourage my students to explore possibilities, make mistakes and extend their learning”.

With more than 20 Awards and Prizes, 3 Artist-In-Residences and a number of exhibitions of her work, Annette is highly qualified and sought-after teacher and artist in her own right.

Barry & Lucy McCann (Acrylic, Oil)

Both full time professional artists, Lucy and Barry McCann are a husband and wife team who work largely on a commission basis, and aim to produce quality paintings, with viewer appeal.

They teach and produce art in their studio in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia but are often travelling to gather subject matter for their paintings or teaching art groups.

Barry and Lucy have participated in numerous joint and group exhibitions winning many awards and have been finalists in some of the most prestigious art competitions throughout the world. Their work has been widely exhibited, published, awarded and collected.

Beth Kennedy (Acrylic)

Beth Kennedy lives and works in Brisbane and has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the ANU.
The essence of Beth’s paintings is the dynamics of patterning. Even at their most colourful, there is a quiet and enigmatic beauty to her work.

She works intuitively with colour, at times allowing it to flow across the canvas in washes, and at others using it in bold opaque areas.

Beth’s work has appeared in Australian House & Garden, Belle magazine and The Age’s Melbourne Magazine as well as having six solo and numerous group exhibitions. Beth is represented by Greenhouse Interiors and Anthea Polson Art.

Brett Lethbridge (Gallery Curator)

Brett Lethbridge is a multi award winning artist with a national reputation for his boundless creative energy. His work ranges from the sublime and beautiful linework of his drawings to the vivid richness and exquisite detail of his large paintings.

Having finished a degree in Law, Brett took hold of his vocation and began drawing and painting in 1998. Winning numerous awards and on the encouragement of his friends Brett decided to extend his artistic pursuits in Europe. A year in Siena, Italy was followed by numerous international exhibitions including Singapore, Germany, New York, and Romero Britto’s gallery in Miami, Florida.

In 2004 Brett opened his own gallery in Paddington, Brisbane. Lethbridge Gallery exhibits, encourages and mentors some of the best artists in Queensland and has a reputation for showing artists with excellent technical skills.

The gallery runs three annual art awards and regularly participates in art fairs in the United States, Asia and Australia.

Bronwyn Barton (Acrylic)

Bronwyn Barton works from her home studio on the Sunshine Coast where she is immersed in the natural sub-tropical bushland. Her painting career started relatively late after working in finance roles. Largely self-taught, Bronwyn held her first solo exhibition in 2022 and has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in Sydney and Sunshine Coast.
She is a popular artist on the Noosa Open Studio Artist Trail having participated there for the last 6 years.

Bronwyn’s artworks are held by Collectors both here in Australia and Overseas. She is represented by several Online galleries as well as Yudian Gallery in China, Kapeesh Gallery in Sydney and Kiss With Style in Melbourne. Her artwork has also been featured in Grand Designs Australia magazine on two occasions.

Chan Dissanaayake (Watercolour)

Chan Dissanayake is a multi-award winning watercolour artist and a highly regarded tutor.
His mastery in watercolour is shown through the variety of subject matter that he tackles from rural landscapes and urban cityscapes to coastal seascapes.

In 2017, Chan received the ultimate accolade for an Australian Watercolourist when he was elected to the elite Australian Watercolour Institute.

Cherry Hood (Watercolour)

Cherry Hood’s distinctive oversized watercolour paintings of faces have led her to winning the prestigious Archibald Prize in 2002, as well as to being selected numerous times as an Archibald finalist – including the first watercolour painting to ever be hung as part of the Archibald.

Having studied art at St George Tech, the National Art School and Sydney College of the Arts (University of Sydney), Cherry is passionate about education and regularly shares her knowledge and practices through workshops and gallery talks.

Over her 20 year painting career, Cherry has had countless solo shows in Australia and overseas, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver and Zurich, as well as being invited to contribute to numerous group and theme exhibitions. Her works have been collected by most major institutions in Australia as well as by many corporate and private collectors.

Christine Clark (Pastel)

Christine Clark is a professional artist and sought- after Tutor adept at helping students develop their own individual style and guides each student in reaching their potential, in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Christine has won numerous awards and in 2007 was awarded Master Pastellist of Australia, status from The Pastel Society of Australia and in 2012 the prestigious Pastellist of the Year Award. Examples of her work have also appeared in the Australian Artist Magazine. Recently in January 2015, Christine appeared on the TV show ‘Colour in Your Life.’

Colley Whisson (Oil)

"Better paintings begin when you are totally captivated by the subject. I have a strong belief that painting is not copying nature but giving expression to visual ideas."

Internationally recognised impressionist artist, Colley Whisson, credits his introduction to the art world to his father and a brief stint as a picture framer.

Having started painting at the age of 20 in his home town of Brisbane, Colley quickly mastered the technique of capturing light to create atmostphere – a ongoing distinctive feature of his work – leading him to become known as one of Australia’s finest young Impressionist painters.

Colley’s first solo exhibition at the age of 24 was a sell out, and since that time he has held another 30 solo exhibitions, won numerous awards, published two books, a number of demonstration videos and many print based and online articles.

He is now in demand as a judge and a teacher, teaching students how to create impressions of their subject using big, bold brushstrokes.

Craig Penny (Acrylic)

Craig studied art at Federation University, where painting and graphic design attracted most of his attention. Craig pursued a successful career as an illustrator in the advertising industry and became a member of the Illustrators' Association of Australia.

His career has progressed into a range of mediums. As a result, Craig has also undertaken a successful career in teaching traditional drawing and illustration at both Victoria University and Swinburne University. Throughout this time, Craig never lost his love of using traditional methods and now specialises in watercolour and acrylic painting. This has led to an extremely successful solo career.

Daniel Butterworth (Acrylic, Oil, Watercolour)

Doug Moran and Archibald Prize finalist, Daniel Butterworth is an established artist specialising in portraiture – frequently using self portraits to express social, political and personal views.

Having started his working life as a sign-writer, Dan later completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Latrobe University and has been a practising artist for more than 20 years. Working from his studio in Kyneton, Victoria, Dan has most recently been producing large scale self portraits, using oil on paper.

With numerous solo and group exhibitions to his name, along with selection as a finalist in a large number of high profile portrait prizes, Daniel is now in demand as a guest artist and teacher in Australia.

David Bongiorno (Charcoal, Graphite)

David Bongiorno is an award winning figurative artist working in Maleny, Queensland. David has participated in solo and group exhibitions in venues including Steps Gallery, Brunswick, The Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Gatakers Artspace Regional Gallery and Caloundra Regional Gallery.

He has undertaken private commissions and has works in private and public collections. David has participated in local and national art prizes including “Emerging Wearable Artist Winner” at the Australian Wearable Art Festival 2022, and has arts management, curation, teaching and mentoring experience.

David Henderson (Oil, Watercolour)

"People and the spaces they inhabit – whether in the form of historic cities, interiors or the nude are the subjects which interest me most. It is through direct observation of the way these interact with more elemental factors – light, shadow, space, atmosphere – that I believe it is possible to catch a glimpse of each subject’s true spirit."

Award-winning artist & Royal Academy graduate, David Henderson, spends half of his year painting in Australia and the other half, painting in Italy.

David believes Italy to be unique in its concentration of artistic treasures, architectural splendour and beauty of light and landscape – elements which are stunningly captured in his drawings, watercolours and oil paintings.

After studying architecture in Brisbane, David enrolled in a course in painting at London’s Royal Academy School, graduating in 1985. He has since held numerous solo exhibitions of his work in Brisbane, Melbourne and London and has been the recipient of several awards and commendations. For many years, David taught art part-time at various institutions, including lecturing and running courses in art history and design at QUT.

David Hinchliffe (Oil, Acrylic, Gouache)

David has had more than 60 solo exhibitions over the last 40 years, including paintings, sculpture and photographs in locations around the world.

David has travelled and painted widely in the United States and UK and is represented extensively in collections both in Australia and overseas. While his work is principally oils on canvas or linen, he has also produced many gouache works and sculpture as well as holding two exhibitions of his photographs. His style has been described as "contemporary impressionism".

"My recent work deals with the urban environment in its many forms in cities around the world as well as an abiding affinity with the Australian landscape. It is a response to light. I like the movement of light across a surface — whether it’s a valley, a river, a street or the human form.

I particularly enjoy the shapes, the noise and the shadows of city landscapes – the drama of lower East Side in New York, the reflections in the canals of Venice, the romance of Paris streets, the quirky laneways of Melbourne, the crowded pedestrian footpaths of Brisbane city, or the tree-lined streets near my home and studio".

David Wells (Pastel)

"I believe that a living person is more interesting than any artwork ever made; therefore, everyone is a masterpiece waiting to be painted."

David Well’s stunning pastel work has featured internationally on the cover of both the Pastel Journal and The Artist Magazine, while his portrait of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge is now part of the Royal Family’s art collection.

With a focus on portraits and figurative work, David has been the recipient of a long list of local and international awards and has exhibited extensively in South East Queensland, and in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide – and all since starting painting at the age of 26!

David’s relaxed, yet highly informative teaching style, and his eclectic professional background (ranging from visual artist and graphic artist, to musician, circus and street performer) has made him one of Bienarté's most popular tutors.

Deb Mostert (Drawing, Sketching)

Deb Mostert’s art practice is 30 years young and involves drawing, painting and some small sculpture and public art. She is interested in Rhopography (from rhopos, trivial objects, small wares, trifles) and collections in both social and natural history and my artworks use gentle, offbeat narratives and a crisp aesthetic.

Deb lives and works in a home studio on the Ipswich/ Brisbane border. She hold a BA Fine Art from the Queensland College of Art and has had over 16 solo shows and been involved in more than 60 group shows in both regional and commercial galleries. Deb has over 15 years teaching experience and run workshops and artist in residencies.

Donald J Waters (Acrylic)

"At the early age of three my potential as an artist came to the fore. I would sit on the lounge room floor painting and drawing with anything I could lay my hands on… boot polish, nail polish, lipstick… anything that had colour and could be used as paint!"

From these early experiments with colour, Donald James Waters has gone on to establish an illustrious painting career spanning well over three decades. While best described as a contemporary artist, Donald’s artwork transcends many genres and features a unique style that uses stylised strokes, overemphasised characters and bold blocks of colour to tell a story.

Donald’s career has taken his art to every corner of the globe and his distinctive style has made its way into the catalogues of many private and corporate collectors alike, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s art collection.

Gary Myers (Acrylic)

Brisbane native, Gary Myers, is a full-time artist who depicts his wide spectrum of subjects with bold colours and strong brushwork. He seeks to express the emotion he feels towards his subjects.

Gary has had more than 45 solo exhibitions and is represented across 6 galleries in Australia as well as having exhibited in England and China.

His art is immediately identifiable, with a unique style that abandons the traditional norms of landscape painting. Gary’s is an exhibitor and visiting tutor at the Sydney Art School and tutors for the Combined Art Societies of Sydney as well as from his own Studio.

Most recently, Gary has been a finalist in the prestigious Hornsby Art Prize and the Sunshine Coast Art Prize.

Georgina Forbes (Watercolour, Gouache)

Georgina is a colourful Brisbane based Fine Artist & Illustrator who happily creates & paints in her light filled studio in Brisbane. Artistic for as long as she can remember, Georgie has always been fascinated with colour and patterns. As a child of the 80s, it is no surprise she admits to being a Ken Done and Jenny Kee tragic and if you squint, you’ll see a bit of their influence shining through her luminous patterns.

Georgie has been painting and creating for over 25 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in both Fine Art and Fashion design from Griffith University in Brisbane. Throughout the past 10 years, Georgie’s work has been a finalist in numerous art awards, including being awarded People’s Choice in 2019 in the Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award at the Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane. She was also was awarded Judges Choice in the "Petite Pieces" Competition at the Aspire Gallery, Brisbane in 2018. Georgie has had solo and group shows across Australia and her work is held in private collections around the world.

Greg Allen (Watercolour)

Greg was born in Australia and studied at the Caulfield Institute of Technology in Melbourne. He established himself as a professional artist when he was 23 and had his first solo exhibition that same year.

In 1990 he studied pastel painting under Daniel Greene in New York. In 1991 he won the Alice Bale Watercolor Prize. He has won the Camberwell Rotary Watercolor Prize twice, in 1990 and 2000, and has 24 other major First Prizes and Best of Show Awards for watercolor. Greg is a much sought-after tutor and has been a guest lecturer at Melbourne University.

Greg is a member of the prestigious Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.

Heidi Willis (Watercolour)

Australian born, Heidi Willis is an entirely self-taught natural history watercolour artist.

Her work illustrates our native and exotic plants, fruits and seed capsules, whilst her powerful, distinctive portraits of Australia’s unique and spectacular bird life offer viewers an insight into the world as she experiences it.

Painting full-time since 2003, Heidi quickly established herself as one of Australia’s leading emerging artistic talents and her international reputation as an exceptional natural history, wildlife artist and botanical artist is well established.

Her works can be found in significant public and private collections around the world and are often sold before completion.

Helen Cottle (Mixed Media)

"My main aim is to paint passionately and enthusiastically… with variation, versatility and diversity… always changing and evolving so as not to become staid. I feel the need to continually keep my work alive, looking for inspiration evoked by emotion, mood or atmosphere."

Helen Cottle’s realistic/impressionist painting style has grown out of decades of experimentation with different mediums.

Born in Williamstown, Victoria, Helen’s artistic life started in early childhood where she spent hours drawing from life. However, what began as a part time hobby, over time evolved into a passion to express herself creatively in whatever medium the chosen subject calls for. Helen has had many successful solo and joint exhibitions and is now a popular and highly sought after tutor and educator.

Herman Pekel (Oil, Watercolour)

"From the age of 12 I was addicted to paint: its tactile quality, the smell, and the feel. Forty years later I am still obsessed. The subject for me is of less consequence than the simple act of applying paint. As long as the shapes within the picture plane harmonise with one another, the obsession can continue."

Herman Pekel was only 17 when he held his first, and highly successful (a sell-out!), solo exhibition.
Born in Melbourne to Dutch parents, Herman initially experimented with abstract expressionism. However, he has gone on to become known nationally and internationally for his contemporary impressionist works in oil and watercolour – works that capture a wide range of subjects from city and landscapes, through to café and bar interiors and dynamic industrial scenery.

As well as winning numerous art awards, Herman's work has featured in several books of Australian art and is represented in public and private collections in Australia and overseas. He is now also a sought-after teacher, sharing his extentive experience with students across the country.

Hobie Porter (Oil)

Hobie Porter is a contemporary landscape painter focused on place and environment.
He lives & works in the Tweed Valley, North-Eastern NSW. His most recent exhibition, Unnatural History: The Tower Hill Project(2016) Warrnambool Art Gallery highlighted the problems of restoring Tower Hill to its pre-colonial splendor. His work has been selected for recent survey exhibitions, including Assemble | Disassemble(2015) Caboolture Regional Gallery and The New Arcadia(2011) Lismore Regional Gallery, among others. He recently produced work about North Head’s significant natural history, exhibited at Manly Art Gallery & Museum in December 2017.

Hobie is a Henry Lawson Scholarship recipient, holding a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) with Honours (Contemporary Art) and a Graduate Diploma of Education. Hobie has been exhibiting regularly since 2004 and teaches painting at the North Coast Institute of TAFE. Hobie is represented by Arthouse Gallery, Sydney.

Isabella Allis (Drawing, Oil)

Isabella Allis migrated to Australia 2001 and settled in Brisbane. She immersed herself in family life and the community, pursuing art as a career in 2013. Her passion is painting portraits in oils. She says of her work: "At the heart of my process when painting a portrait, is a live sitting where I sit casually across from my subject and have a conversation whilst I sketch. I encourage them to move freely and not lock themselves into a pose. This helps me to see their features in animation and listening to them talk helps me to understand their unique characters. Sketching what I see continuously helps to build a memory that I draw on when working on the final portrait. I use this in conjunction with reference photographs to uncover their story and express it through my art.

Jan Lawnikanis (Watercolour)

Jan Lawnikanis has taught regular art classes on the Gold Coast for the past 24 years and tutored over 100 workshops in various locations around Queensland and NSW.
Students in all mediums have praised Jan for her teaching skills and this has gained her an excellent reputation with all ages.

Jan has been the featured artist in Australian Artist Magazine, with 5 full-length articles on using coloured pencils. Other publications include the Paradise Magazine-GC Bulletin, Art Newsflash, the International Watercolour Institute catalogue, the Coloured Pencil Magazine, the Australian Coloured Pencil Network, Art Edit magazine and Artwise textbook for the Australian Curriculum.

Her award-winning artworks hang in many private and corporate collections.

Jane James (Graphite, Oil)

The natural world, sea and marine conservation are central themes and inspiration for Brisbane-based visual artist, Jane James. Spanning a range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking, Jane’s work is underpinned by a deep love of draftsmanship, craftsmanship and design.

Jane's works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Australia, in New York and Fiji, and have been selected as finalists and winners in Marine and Natural History Art awards.
Jane regularly travels through the Asia Pacific region, collecting material for her art projects and conducting teaching residencies in Marine Art. She also has many years of experience as a lecturer and tutor in Australia.

Jennifer Allnutt (Oil)

Jennifer is a contemporary figurative artist working primarily with oil paints on canvas and cradled wood panel. She graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours) in 2011 and a Masters of Teaching in 2016.

In her oil paintings, Jennifer constructs images which straddle the line between realism and illusionism. Her work often tells a story or weaves an ambiguous narrative. This is found by the subtle hints in symbolic objects, clothing, facial expressions or even a small gesture.

Jennifer’s work has been exhibited in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland and the United States

Jenni Kelly (Acrylic)

Jenni achieves a realistic expression in her creative freestyle painting leaving the viewer free to exercise their own imagination. These paintings have an appealing sense of colour, freedom and movement with subjects close to nature. Jenni regularly exhibits throughout Australia including 21 paintings hanging throughout the Holy Spirit Hospital at Chermside Brisbane.

Jenni is basically self-taught and is constantly improving her skills by attending other artists workshops, e.g McGregor Summer Schools Toowoomba, Mitchell Summer School’s Bathurst and Clifton Art workshops regularly. Jenni currently lives in Murrumba Downs at North Brisbane.

Jessie Rose Ford (Watercolour)

Jessie Rose Ford’s techniques in watercolour painting and grey lead drawing lend her botanical subjects an impressive level of realism.

As a Melbourne-based artist, Jessie’s passion for nature and the environment is evident in her work and in the numerous solo and group exhibitions in which her work has featured. Her art residency on Flinders Island in Tasmania in 2015 also led to Jessie receiving the Highly Commended Prize at the Re Framing Nature exhibition at the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens that year.

John Lovett (Watercolour, Oil, Mixed Media)

John Lovett’s passion for travel, landscapes, people and the environment is reflected in his powerfully evocative watercolour, oil and mixed media works.

Born in Cooma, NSW, John studied at Newcastle’s National Art School and has painted professionally since 1979. In that time he has held over 40 solo exhibitions, participated in numerous joint exhibitions and become a regular featured artist and contributor to the ‘International Artist’ and ‘Australian Artist’ magazines.

John’s work possesses an emotive power and vitality that is enhanced by his use of light, color and strong sense of design and is represented in private and corporate collections in Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and USA.

John’s passion for his work and his open easy approach to teaching make his books, DVD’s and workshops thoroughly enjoyable, extremely informative and always very popular.

John Wilson (Oil)

John Wilson’s oil paintings, which capture the more elusive qualities of Australia’s unique landscape, have earned him the reputation of being one of Australia’s leading and most respected oil painters and a much sought-after judge and tutor.

John’s childhood was spent in the beautiful Blue Mountains of NSW, which inspired a deep love of the rugged grandeur, spectacular colours and the many moods of the landscape.

John is now a multi-award winning artist, with 47 solo exhibitions and numerous group shows to his name. He has exhibited in London, USA, Japan, Canada, Beijing China and Seoul Korea and his highly collectable paintings are represented in private, corporate and public collections throughout Australia and internationally.

John’s Masterclass workshops always book out very quickly – a testament to his renowned gentle teaching style and the sheer quantity of expert information he shares during his workshops about the techniques of the Old Australian landscape masters (like Streeton, Roberts, Gruner and Johnson) and the secrets of how to paint beautiful and exciting landscapes.

Judy Drew (Pastel)

Australian painter Judy Drew was born in 1951. Her passion for the Post-Impressionism period and the influence of Japanese art in the late 1880’s, along with her creative sense of colour and form, allow Judy to create beautiful and modern work, even though Judy’s work is contemporary she retains a touch of sentiment in all her pieces.

Her rich and textured pastels convey her emotion and love for this medium creating refreshing and strong compositional work, which is sensitive to the subject matter. Judy’s love for figurative work and her sensitive portraits of the Bougainville people gained local and international attention whilst living and working on Bougainville Island in papua New Guinea from 1976-1984. She studied Graphic Art at Prahran College of Art in Melbourne and has been recognised with numerous Awards including the Omega Contemporary Art Prize and the Portrait Prize, Melbourne Savage Club. With sell-out exhibitions, Judy’s reputation continues to soar as one of Australia’s most talented and exciting female artists.

Karol Oakley (Pastel)

Karol is a member of the Pastel Society of Australia (PSA) and a Master Pastellist of over 20 years. Karol’s paintings have won Best in Show and Pastellist of the Year at the PSA Annual Exhibition and Awards. She is also a member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AGRA) and the Pastel Society of Southern California. Karol has also received a scholarship with the Pastel Society of America.

Painting with the pastel medium for over 30 years, Karol has won numerous awards for her vibrant realist style pastel paintings, with works held in public and private collections, both in Australia and overseas. She also creates paintings in other mediums, with the natural environment and our identity within it, this is her favourite theme.

Kate Quinn (Oils)

Kate is a Brisbane-based artist working in Oils. She enjoys painting still lifes, featuring flowers, vases, vessels, ceramics and textiles. She also has a bold use of colour, producing bright and cheerful work with combinations of blues, greens and pinks. Kate enjoys focusing on imperfections in floral arrangements, such as a fallen petal or drooping flower, and often includes them in her work.

In early 2020, Kate won the "Jumbled Art Superstar Prize" and has recently been exhibiting in several group shows as well as a solo exhibition in 2021.

Keiko Tanabe (Watercolour)

Keiko Tanabe’s watercolour paintings have been described as “...being caught between the 'physical' and the 'spiritual'. It is if they are glimpses of who we are and where we have been” (Brian Sherwin, art critic).

As a child growing up in Japan, Keiko painted and drew and won many children’s art awards. However, it wasn’t until 2003, after undertaking a course in basic drawing and watercolour painting at a community college in her current home city of San Diego, that she decided to pursue art as a career.

Keiko’s love of travel is captured in both the exotic and familiar landscapes, cityscapes, waterscapes and interiors that are the focus of her work. Her use of colour, texture and signature brushwork have earned Keiko many awards, and her work can be found in collections around the world.

She is also the author of six books and a sought-after workshop teacher, having conducted more than 170 workshops and demonstrations in the past 6 years.

Kerry Rushton (Acrylic)

Kerry Rushton has a menagerie of talents. From professional artist to passionate 'beginner’s Instructor'. Kerry had a 10 year career painting on film and theatre sets before running her own art classes and establishing an art gallery. She was recently the Artist in Residence at the Monet in Paris Experience and taught hundreds of people how to ‘paint like Monet’.

She is predominately self-taught with skills in illustration, murals and abstract expressionism. Kerry loves to create luscious layers and then strip them away to reveal the history within. Her work is spontaneous and explores rich, deep colours and neutrals.

“I start with chaos and then sensitively discover the story within”. Kerry strives to inspire the student to rediscover their innate creativity. Observe, connect with and embody the confidence that comes with learning to paint and make pictures.

Libby Derham (Watercolour)

Libby Derham is a 4th generation Watercolourist. She has a strong appreciation of beauty in the natural landscape and paints Plain Air every week. Achieving loose contemporary landscapes, she captures the whole sensory experience of the location she has chosen.

I work intuitively, focusing on authenticity of marks and representing sounds through line

Libby has been a finalist in McClelland’s Splash Contemporary Watercolour Award, the Queensland Regional Art Awards, the Du Rietz Art Award and the Local Artist Local Content Award. Having been an arts educator for 15 years, Libby is now a full-time artist.

Llewellyn Skye (Oil, Acrylic)

Llewellyn Skye, known simply as Skye, is a dynamic visual artist. Drawing inspiration from lyrics, poetry and nature, in particular florals, Skye’s work evokes romance and drama.

Completing her BFA at the National Art School, followed by an advanced diploma at the Sydney Gallery School, Skye is an accomplished artist whose work has been represented in over 60 exhibitions and 12 solo shows. She received the Fenton & Fenton 2021 Rising Talent Award, ALA 2021 Abstract Artist Award, 2018 BLA Award and was awarded a painting residency in Italy.

She has undertaken a significant number of notable commissions, and her works can be found in a number of public and private collections in Australia and abroad.

Louise Saunders OAM (Watercolour, Pastels)

After spending 4.5 years as the Artist in Residence at Couran Cove Island Resort on the Gold Coast, Louise developed her passion for ecoscience and wildlife with expeditions for EarthWatch, learning Bayik painting in Thailand and Borneo to work on illustrations for an identification key guide.

In 2015 Louise was part of the inaugural Artist in Residence programme at the Ecoscience Precinct at Dutton Park in Brisbane. She is a member of the Botanic Artists' Sociaty of Queensland, the Queensland Wildlife Artists' Society Inc and the Pastel Society of Australia. Louise is an artists and illustrator who is recognised as a specialist in botanicla and natural history subjects and was recognised for her wildlife work with the medal of the Order of Australia.

Loni Mills (Drawing)

Loni has been drawing people since she was in primary school. Painting props, backdrops and portraits for school musicals. The first life drawing class was at age 15 which was a revelation. Those first drawings have been kept so that her progress could be tracked by her.

Even when training for her day job as an operating theatre nurse she kept sketching. Quite a lot of doctors own a yellowing pen drawing of themselves by Loni, on a paper hand towel. In 1994 she returned to Brisbane from Sydney and joined a life drawing group and hasn’t really stopped going to classes ever since. A Bachelor of Visual Art in Fine Arts was completed in 1997. Exhibited in many group and solo exhibitions since 1995. Loni has run tutored classes and workshops in Brisbane.

Lyn Diefenbach (Oil, Pastel)

"I’m often asked for advice on how to progress with an art career and my answer would be to never stop learning." Lyn Diefenbach

Lyn Diefenbach’s stunningly realistic florals and portraits in pastels and oils are the result of a 25 year journey of discovery of herself and the craft of painting. Her works reflect a celebration of this journey and of Lyn’s pursuit of masterly quality and technique. For the past 20 years, Lyn has also shared her insights into the pursuit of quality and technique with her students.

Lyn’s works have received awards and accolades nationally and internationally, including the Pastel Society of Australia’s Pastellist of the Year award in 2016 and her paintings are represented in major regional and private collections within Australian and overseas.

Lyn has been featured numerous times in the International Artist, Pastel Journal and the Australian Artist magazines, while her ability to communicate her ideas has entrenched her as a respected and sought-after tutor across Australian and internationally.

What has Lyn been up to in 2024!

I don’t think my feet have touched the ground this year. In summary:

- 4 international conventions – 2 on the ground, 2 online

- 7 international online demonstrations (often at obscure hours)

- 4 judging gigs that I remember

- 2 major commissions in oil (one huge!)

- 59 (ish) days teaching, 5 more to go

Award of Excellence at the International Association of Pastel Societies Convention

Selection for International Guild of Realism Exhibition in US

First professional teaching video released internationally

In between I’ve somehow managed to find time to produce over 30 paintings – studio work, plein air. And I’ve kept up my journals because too much painting is never enough!
.

Lyne Marshall (Oil)

Lyne Marshall’s stunning contemporary paintings, inspired by remote landscapes, can be found in galleries across Australia and in New Zealand, China, Japan and the USA. Her paintings reflect a time and space; a glimpse of a pristine wilderness, untouched by human hands. While not specific to an area, they are based on deeper impressions, of a childhood living on a remote island and now as an adult on an isolated mountain range in Tallegalla, just outside of Brisbane.

Whilst Lyne's focus is predominantly on experimental painting, she also produces conceptual artworks, as well as being a sculptor and the author of four books on the philosophy and creative process of being an artist. Lyn is strongly focused on helping others to find their creative destiny through her workshops and her books, both of which are in high demand.

Maria Nazyrova (Drawing)

For Russian-born Maria Nazyrova, nature is the greatest source of inspiration for her drawings. Using finely developed skills in observation, perspective, control and precision of lines, Maria’s drawings embellish and transform her subjects into exquisite recreations of reality.

After studying traditional drawing methods for 8 years in her native country, Maria has continued to develop and refine her skills and style and is now passionate about sharing her knowledge with others.

Maria’s students benefit from her in-depth understanding of traditional drawing techniques and what is needed to create a good drawing, as well as from her wealth of knowledge and great resources on artists, drawings and drawing materials – all of which she shares generously with her students.

Mark Gawne (Acrylic)

After attaining his degree in Fine Art, Mark completed his Masters degree studying German and American Abstract Expressionism (1919-1950s).

Moving to Fine Art painting in the late 90’s, having previously worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, Mark produced hundreds of abstract landscapes that sold in selected Australian galleries and were bought around the world.
His love is ‘Abstract Expressionism’ which draws on his personal experiences and is aimed at emotional expression with particular emphasis on the spontaneous creative act.
Mark’s work is characterised by gestural brush-strokes or mark-making and the impression of spontaneity

He has been selected as a finalist for a number of awards, including the Tattersalls Art prize, the Cairns Regional Art Prize (People’s Choice winner) and Mark was the inaugural winner of the Edward Koch foundation prize to name a few. He has also been featured in Art industry magazines, décor and real estate magazines and TV shows.

Mellissa Read-Devine (Acrylic)

The recipient of many Australian art prizes, Mellissa’s style is distinctive with her electric palette and layered application of brush strokes.

Mellissa’s paintings have evolved into her “macropointilist” style celebrating the shape, colour and brushstroke of contemporary impressionism. These characteristics come together presenting unique representations sought after by both Australian and international collectors alike.

Mellissa Read-Devine is a Fellow of the Royal Art Society of NSW and is the Acrylics tutor at the RAS Art School.

Mignon Parker (Acrylic)

Mignon’s foray into the art world began at North Sydney Technical College, after which she went on to attend the National Art School’s Diploma of Design, before being offered employment in the advertising industry in Sydney. During her career in the arts Mignon has remained a prolific artist, submitting art work to mass media publication magazines, conducting workshops at well-established art schools and her home studio. Mignon exhibits widely and is represented by the Maulton Gallery in Sydney.

Her work is not limited to one style, rather a unique and diverse ride through many different styles and techniques. She is inspired by the Australian Bush and the vibrant bursts of colour and subtle textures that surround her.

Nick Olsen (Acrylic, Oil)

Nick Olsen is a Brisbane-based painter who is interested in the built environment and how our living spaces reflect our cultural sensibilities through different times in our history. He uses a focus on light, tone and colour to elicit an emotional response and a sense of “place” in his work.

Exhibiting yearly since 1990, Nick is in numerous collections, including: Collections Gold Coast Regional Gallery; Ipswich Regional Gallery; Redcliffe Regional Gallery; QUT Gallery ( Alumni); and the Museum of Brisbane.

Among Nick’s awards are: Finalist Australian High Court centenary prize 2003; Finalist – Tattersalls Club Art Prize 2008, 2009; Gold Coast Art Prize 2013; Brisbane Rotary Art Prize – 2009, 2015,2016; Winner – Brisbane Rotary Art Prize ( Painting) 2007; Winner Royal Overseas League Travelling Scholarship 2011.

Paul Margocsy (Watercolour, Gouache)

Paul was born in August 1945. In 1978 he became engrossed in wildlife art. After much research into ornithology and through self-taught efforts and experiments he started to get the hang of it. A few years later he became a member of “The Wildlife Art Society of Australasia” and the very next year won first prize for the best painting.

Paul has had solo exhibitions in London and Japan, six solo shows in America and two at the exclusive "Raffles" Hotel in Singapore, making his international career blossom. To be chosen to exhibit at the prestigious "Leigh Yawkey Woodson Birds In Art" show in America (80 selected from over 3500 entries) was a "feather in his cap". He was chosen two years running in 1995 and 1996. Paul was honoured with a fellow membership to “The Wildlife Art Society Of Australasia” for services to the society and wildlife art. In 2006, he became the first Australian wildlife artist to have a solo exhibition in Hong Kong. In 2009 he released his second book “Away With The Birds”. In 2010 he was featured in a 4-page article in the prestigious “Art In Watercolour” magazine which was released in Paris.

Paul uses water colour and gouache with airbrush backgrounds to achieve his artwork.

His love for painting, with that of his wife, son and daughter make him a truly contented artist.

Paula de la Rua Cordoba (Ceramics, Sculpture)

Paula is a Brisbane based ceramicist and sculptor passionate about nature and plants, working with porcelain and wood to create intricate, large botanical scale sculptures and art installations.

Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Paula has an academic background, with knowledge in Art History, Restoration of oil on canvas and teaching before she moved to Brisbane in 2008. She has since learnt painting techniques at the Brisbane Institute of Art and obtained a Diploma of Visual Arts at Southbank TAFE, a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Canberra and has recently achieved a Bachelor of Fine Art Honours (First Class) from the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.
She is currently pursuing postgraduate studies with an artist portfolio complemented by a variety of events and exhibitions.

Paula has a background in teaching from Spain and in Australia she has experience teaching clay techniques to university students at the University of Canberra as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions and business commissions. She has recently opened her own ceramic studio and art gallery, Red, Blue & Yellow Ceramic Studio, aiming to provide a welcoming and supportive space for students to achieve their full potential while guided in the intricacies and joy of working with clay.

Penelope Gilbert-Ng (Pastel, Watercolour)

A Master Pastellist and finalist in the Archibald and Portia Geach Portrait Prizes, portrait artist Penelope Gilbert-Ng has been creating art for more than 40 years and is a sought after judge for art competitions.

Inspired by the impressionist era, Penelope’s oil and pastel portraits exhibit both fine craftsmanship and a sensitive eye through which she coveys the inner essence of her subjects – capturing them in a realistic, yet not photographic way.

Penelope’s great passion for painting and never-ending fascination for people is not only evident in her work, but also in her teaching, which she has been doing for almost 30 years.

Peter Griffen (Oil)

Peter Griffen is a full time Sydney based artist and has been painting for forty five years, during which time he has traveled extensively and has had numerous exhibitions in Australia and overseas. Typical of his work is its playful dynamic quality and the strong use of colour.

Peter has had five solo exhibitions in London, four in Paris, two in St Tropez, one each in Lyon, New York and New Zealand. He has had about sixty solo exhibitions throughout Australia, has been in numerous group shows and is represented in many private and public collections.

He has been selected as a finalist in several prizes including the Blake, Sulman, Dobell and Fleurieu prizes and apart from many other texts, has been published several times in the Australian Artist magazine, in particular, in issue number 109, “Making Sense of Abstract Images”. His work and personal comments appear in his book, “In and Out of Abstraction”.

Rachael King (Mixed Media)

Rachael King is a Brisbane Surface Pattern Designer and Author of Pattern Pulse. Rachael uses analogue and digital techniques to bring her watercolour artwork into designs that are licensed to companies such Spotlight, Annabel Trends and John Sands Greeting Cards.

Rachael is excited about the possibilities of pattern and colour and how they can be brought into our everday life. Her life-long passion for textiles drove her to actively pursue an education in Graphic Design 7 years ago.

Rachael went on to complete Modules 2 and 3 of the Art and Business of Surface Design, a highly regarded international design platform for students to launch their surface design dreams. She has shown her portfolio with Nerida Hansen at Surtex New York in 2017 and 2018. On the back of these shows, she secured a licencing deal with Spotlight Australia and established gerself as a Surface Pattern Designer.

Rachael has a loose organic style, using vibrant watercolours to reflect her local surroundings.

Ric Boulter (acrylic)

Ric’s driving motivation is to share how he sees the beauty of the Natural World while exploring the importance the role of ‘Creativity’ plays in our well being and wholeness. The Japanese concept of “ Nagomi ”, which translates to a ‘ sense of well being, calmness, harmony and sustainability ’, is what we in the Western World might call being in ‘ The Zone’. This ability to loose ourselves in the creative process has proven benefits for both physical and mental health, so important in our busy and sometimes chaotic lives.

Ric hopes to encourage this creative process through his classes, while using his experience as a practicing artist to help others develop their own skills.

Ric trained as an Art and Graphics teacher at Southampton University in the UK. He went on to teach Art and Graphics at a number of Secondary Schools in Australia over a period of 25 years.

Rikki Fisher (Sketchboard)

Rikki Fisher is recognised internationally as a Master Scratchboard Artist (MSA). Currently only 4 Australian artists have attained MSA accreditation with the International Society of Scratchboard Artist (ISSA).

Rikki is motivated by her passion for wildlife. She is considered one of the pre-eminent practitioners of this art form. Rikki is both proficient and versatile in the craft and well able to impart her extensive knowledge. Rikki has won National and International awards for her work. A resident of northern NSW, Rikki holds workshops and has given demonstrations at local, State and International levels.

Rob Rek (Acrylic and Mixed Media)

Rob Rek is an established artist based in Brisbane, Queensland. His popular artworks draw inspiration from the beauty and intricate details found in the natural world, in particular he has become known as a realistic avian specialist.

Rob Rek is a multi-award-winning professional artist and tutor, working from his studio in Brisbane since 2006.
His artworks are driven by the pursuit of perfection and focus intently on the finest details. The process of exacting the results he produces today, are skills which have taken many years of focused study and practice to refine. Using only the highest quality archival materials available, he approaches a vast array of subject matter.
His work has proliferated in recent years with regular exhibitions in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.His sought-after paintings are held in private, corporate and government collections from every corner of Australia and across the globe.

Rek’s artwork has been featured in design and Australian nature magazines, commissioned for children’s books, appeared on national TV in Australia. Rek has been recognised in many competitive art prizes including The Brisbane Rotary Art Prize, Queensland Figurative Art Prize, The Lethbridge 20,000 and the Brisbane Portrait Prize.

Career Highlights.
In 2024 Rek’s painting “Black Lotus” was a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize.
In 2023 The Parrot Society of Australia featured His artwork in their nationwide magazine publication.
In 2022 REK’s painting “Rainbow Bridge” was the recipient of the People’s Choice award at the 43rd annual art awards held by The TYTO Regional Art Gallery.
In 2022 REK was the winner of the Seventh Annual Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Awards
In 2021 REK was the winner of the Sixth Annual Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Awards for Painting
In 2020 REK was the feature artist and guest judge at the Royal Queensland art Societies' Biannual Exhibition.
In 2018 His Artwork was featured on the National TV show Healthy Homes Australia.

Robyn Bauer (Acrylic)

Robyn Bauer was made a Fellow of the Royal Queensland Art Society in 2019.

She is a full-time artist based in Brisbane’s Paddington. She was Artist in Residence at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in 2019.

She has won numerous prizes and is well known for her colourful urban landscape paintings and alla prima portrait and still life works.

Robyn has her own gallery in Paddington and has worked at the Queensland Art Gallery, the Brisbane Institute of Art and Queensland Institute of Technology. Robyn has taught nationally and internationally and holds solo exhibitions every two years.

Robyn Collier (Oil)

Robyn is well known as a prominent Australian wilderness landscape and seascape painter of contemporary realism who started painting in the early 70’s – when traditional art was really taking off and Sydney Galleries were frequent and successful. Having spent many years painting en plein-air she then graduated to studio work and subjects requiring more time and reference while still retaining the Alla-Prima technique. (Direct painting, wet-in-wet).

For the past twelve years Robyn has been travelling round Australia and New Zealand tutoring workshops – a direction which is proving to be most fulfilling.

Sandra Temple (Mixed Media)

Sandra Temple’s passionate interest in wildlife, and particularly in wildlife conservation, is evident in her art, in her teaching and in her support for the field of wildlife art in Australia.

With more than 30 years experience as a professional artist, illustrator and author, as well as a sought after teacher, tutor and art judge, Sandra has worked in all mediums – but has a strong interest in mixed medium art works. Over the past six years Sandra has also become internationally recognised as a Bodypainter, and is demand in the advertising, special effects, film and events sectors.

Scott Breton (Drawing)

Scott Breton is a figurative fine artist from Brisbane, Australia. After completing a science degree (BSc (Genetics) University of Queensland) and contemplating a career in biotechnology, Scott committed fully to pursuing art, continuing a classically leaning arts education and practise begun much earlier.

In 2012 Scott won the highly contested A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Australia’s largest national prize for developing the careers of traditional representational artists. This allowed Scott to do further study with contemporary classical artists in the US and Europe, and has contributed to his view of the relevance of Renaissance thinking and aesthetics in the Arts in the 21st century. To continue and expand his work in fine art education, Scott was a cofounder of The International Arts and Culture Group (TIAC Group) in 2016, and now spends his time between Brisbane, Australia and Florence, Italy, working on his compositions and TIAC's arts education projects.

Stephie Clark (Pastel)

Stephie Clark is a soft pastel artist from Australia working mostly in her country studio at home in Armidale. She divides her time between painting in her studio and teaching workshops both here in Australia and overseas in France.

Stephie is best known for her free and flowing florals and fruits – her style is uninhibited by rules and boundaries. She is inspired by the nature and colours it produces. Stephie’s work has been featured in French magazine Practique des Arts and you can see her in action on her Patreon site. Stephie sells her art in her online shop around the world.

Szczepan Urbanowicz (Watercolour)

Szczepan graduated with an Honours Degree in Architecture from the University of Auckland in 1993. Whilst he had spent his formative years painting and sketching, it wasn’t until 2013 that he rekindled his love of watercolour painting.

In 2013 Szczepan started his watercolour adventure by joining and sketching alongside a number of local urban artists – the “Brisbane Urban Sketchers” and the Brisbane “Plein-Air” Group. Beyond his new start in 2018 into teaching watercolour classes and offering workshops, Szczepan continues to paint plein-air and was recently selected as one of Australia’s representatives to the Fabriano in Acquarello Festival in Fabriano, Italy in May 2018.

Todd Whisson (Oil)

Todd Whisson is a successful Australian Modern Impressionist Artist whose work is uninhibited yet connected, which has emerged from his passion for plein air and alla prima painting.

In 2011 Whisson embarked on a tertiary education into contemporary art through TAFE Qld. Whisson was awarded the highest achievement of acquisition prize, for his first and second-year series “Hidden Secrets” and “Scar Tissue” whilst completing his diploma of Visual Arts.

Continuing his education, Todd completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015 through QCA (Griffith University), achieving academic excellence along the way. In addition, Whisson was individually selected by Brisbane City Council to showcase his work as a representative of QCA graduates in painting.

Whisson’s recent work has developed markedly, taking an abstract approach which continues to reflect his skill in traditional techniques yet has enabled him to communicate more than a visual representation and has elevated his passion and vision to another level of skill and perception.

Whisson’s work is represented in galleries, private and corporate collections in Australia and internationally.

Tony White (Watercolour)

Tony White is a Watercolour Artist from Newcastle, Australia. He has established a great following with collectors and students alike. His work has been sold as far afield as Germany and the U.K.

Tony is teaching classes and workshops all around the country and the world. His students always have a lot of fun and leave his workshops with a refreshed and invigorated approach, ready to attack their painting with gusto! His social media following is gaining momentum and with over 10,000 Facebook followers, he is hitting his stride around the world. His style is traditional impressionistic landscape with a strong emphasis on light and atmosphere.

Tricia Taylor (Pastel)

Tricia Taylor is a Master Pastellist from Queensland, with 20 years' experience working with pastels. Having an impressionistic style of realism Tricia’s work has life and movement focusing on the beauty of light. She has awards in landscape, seascape, still life, florals and portraits along with being awarded Pastellist of the Year 2010.

"The way the pastel becomes your brush and the paper your pallet is immediate and exciting to paint with. The subtle colour affects you can gain by glazing one colour over another gives a great depth to the artwork."

As an Accredited Unison artist Tricia has been given her own selections of Unison pastel sets, including Seascape, Earth and Rock, Sand and more.

Wendi Leigh (Acrylic)

Based in Wollongong, Wendi Leigh is a re-emerging artist after a twelve-year break in which she designed and manufactured her own prints into women’s fashion. Her professional painting practice started in 1989, and in 2019 Wendi created the O.D.O.R.I art movement describing her style as ‘overt distortion of real imagery’. It has been likened to digital art, but in reality, is a personal derivation of simplifying detail to a minimum and using colour to suggest light and form. Colours are often subtle and yet at the same time strong in character -evoking a complexity of mood that is almost punctilious in its analysis of contemporary attitudes and life today.

Her recent work has controlled detail and a warm confidence that brings in glowing colours in unusual combinations. The abstracted qualities of the paintings are always very strong both in line and tone and these new works are particularly striking.

As a full-time artist, Wendi now devotes much of her time to experimentation with gouache on board and paper. “The gouache work utilises the flat opaqueness of the medium, likened to silk screening. The subjects include a narrative that records current life from urban sprawl, Australian flora and fauna, social interaction and household animals. These subjects hold the underlying stories of hope and joy in a time where anxiety and disillusion of worldwide unrest holds many people in negative frameworks”. Wendi describes her work as “bringing a certain peace to the viewer, which in turn renews a sense of wellbeing and happiness”.

Wendi has won many prizes and exhibited in over 27 shows and is now represented in galleries in NSW, S.A. VIC and QLD. Wendi has built on her original study in a Diploma of Colour and Design, and in 2008 was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction from Wollongong University.