Deb here and welcome to my new website where you can view and purchase reasonably priced high quality art works. If you prefer to create your own works why not join me during art classes in the form of workshops or individual classes tailored to your needs. I am very happy to travel to run workshops.
First of all , just a brief history of myself
I have always drawn and painted ever since I was a child but I also had a passion for biology. I qualified as a biologist specialising in insects in my early career. After leaving the UK I went to work as a medical entomologist in South Africa. I then emigrated to Australia where I retrained and worked as a high school teacher, teaching science and art for many years.
For the last 6 years I have gone back to my first love, art and have been practising as a full time artist. I have been a finalist in the prestigious Kedumba Drawing Award twice, a finalist in the Hans Heysen Landscape Prize, and regularly exhibit locally and interstate. I was the Artist in Residence for Australian Aerospace out at the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey resulting in a solo exhibition Tigers, Rotors & Blokes. I have won the Grand Champion Picture at Toowoomba Royal Show and won a McGregor Winter School Scholarship. I have work in collections both here and overseas. Last year I had joint exhibition, Feline Groovy with Robbie Erskine, which of course was all about cats and was a great success. The lastest and very exciting news is that I have 2 works that will be on show in London in from 27th August- 17th September.
I currently specialise in teaching drawing classes at Murrays Art & Framing here in Toowoomba and I have just finished tutoring a beginners drawing course at the 2010 McGregor Winter School at the University of Southern Queensland.
My new goals as an artist are to work towards becoming an illustrator for children’s books, keep developing my art skills and to pass that knowledge on.
CV
2010
Society of Feline Artists Exhibition, Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London
Toowoomba Grammar art Show
Downlands Art Show
2009
Feline Groovy, joint exhibition with Robbie Erskine, Kath Dickson Family Centre Art Gallery, Toowoomba
Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Downlands Art Show
2008
Finalist in the Hans Heysen Landscape Prize, Hahndorf Academy, SA
Grand champion picture, Toowoomba Royal Show, Qld
Selected for Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba
2007
Selected for Gold Edition Equine Art Prize, Toowoomba
Selected for Avant Garden Community Art Project, Carnival of Flowers Toowoomba
Selected for Flying Arts Regional Art Show, Toowoomba
Selected for Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba
Solo exhibition Tigers, Rotors & Blokes, Jondaryan Cultural Centre, Oakey Qld
Invitation to exhibit at the 2007 International Airshow, Avalon, Melbourne
2006
Invitation to the Kedumba Drawing Award), Wentworth Falls, NSW
Selected for the Flying Arts Regional Art Award, Thuringowa, QLD
Selected for the Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba, QLD
Selected for the Mackay Art Show, Mackay QLD
Selected for the Stanthorpe Arts Festival, Stanthorpe, QLD
2005
Invitation to the Kedumba Drawing Award, Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains, NSW
Invitation to the Flying Arts Regional Art Award, Longreach and Brisbane, QLD
Invitation to Art with a Heart Exhibition, Toowoomba, QLD
Joint Exhibitions 2005/ 2004
Community Print Makers Exhibition, Tweed River Art Gallery NSW, July 2005
Primary Connections, Toowoomba, March 2005
The Courier Mail Art Expo, Brisbane, March 2005 & 2004
Linden Postcard Exhibition, Melbourne, 2004
Feature artist at MYART Art Gallery, Toowoomba from March 2004 to July 2009
Awards Won
Awarded the McGregor Winter School Scholarship 2008 for a drawing exhibited at the Toowoomba Royal Show 2008
Artist in Residence
I was the artist in residence for Australian Aerospace based out at Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey Qld 2006-2007. While there I documented the introduction of the new Tiger Helicopters and my work culminated in a series of drawings, illustrations and photographs culminating in the exhibition Tigers, Rotors& Blokes.
Commissions/ Illustrations published
I have been commissioned by Australian Aerospace and private commissions. I have work in private collections both in Australia and overseas. I have illustrations published in Contact, the Australian Military Magazine 2007 & 2008.
Teaching
2008-current
I am currently running courses teaching drawing for beginners, intermediate and advanced students at Murray’s Art & Framing, Toowoomba. I have taught learning to see & draw as an artist at the 2010 McGregor Winter School.
Art Training
I have attended fine art and book illustration workshops with a range of artists listed below: Christine Porter (watercolour master class, & business practice)Keith Dewell (portrait and figure painting in oils) Gregory Rogers (book illustration) Beverly Bloxham, Alan Bruce, Jane Bridle & Cathy Tame (life drawing), Phil Silcox (still life, drawing skills) Patrick Petein & Adrianne Fleming (print making) Gillian Scott & Kathy Pollit (watercolours), Katherine Parker, Maryika Welker (mixed media). Wim de Vos (printmaking)
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
Graduate Diploma of Education, Secondary Science awarded by QUT, Brisbane 1991
Master of Science Degree (with Distinction) (Entomology) awarded by the University of Witwatersrand, RSA, 1988
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Biological Science awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards, Portsmouth Polytechnical College, UK 1981