In the last 12 months alone he has won three art prizes; the Cambridge Studio Gallery portrait prize, the Cliftons Sydney Art prize and the Cliftons People’s choice award.  He was finalist in seven others including the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture and the Percival Tucker Portrait Prize, has exhibited in two solo exhibitions and has been in a number of group shows.

But his path forward has not always been as clear as it is today and he talks openly about the uncertainty he experienced after leaving university when he struggled to find direction.  An unexpected 21st birthday present and advice he received from a life drawing teacher led him to enrol at Julian Ashton Art School where he became ‘addicted’ to drawing and painting and was awarded a scholarship.

In our conversation he also talks about his portraits of Paul Capsis and Thomas Keneally and describes his process and approach to colour and light which feature strongly in his breathtaking portraits and landscapes.

To listen to the podcast episode press ‘play’ above or listen on your podcast app.  The works, as well as links to things and people we talk about in the episode, are below.

Current and upcoming events

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk-Vw7QzmdA

‘Transcendence’ 2016, oil on polyester, 82 x 50cm

Paul Capsis II, 2017, oi on polyester, 44 x 58cm

Paul Capsis, 2017, Charcoal on paper, 80 x 50cm

Progress shots of development of ‘Paul Capsis’

‘Thomas Keneally’ 2016, oil on polyester, 103 x 82cm

‘Love Stick’, 2017, oil on polyester, 92 x 102cm

‘Temporal’, 2017, oil on polyester, 46 x 61cm

‘Reverie’, 2017, oil on polyester, 51 x 40cm

‘Genevieve Lemon’ 2016, Charcoal on paper, 50 x 50cm

‘Santa Fe Sunset’ 2017, oil on wooden panel, 23 x 30cm

‘Glimmer’ 2016, oil on wooden panel, 21 x 29cm

‘Sea Cliff Bridge 1’ 2017, oil on wooden panel, 20 x 25.5cm