‘View to the North’ is one of 30 finalists in the Bluethumb Art Prize 18. The finalists exhibition at Bluethumb, 81 Sackville St, Collingwood, runs until 15 April.

This painting, along with my works ‘Coastal Storm’ and ‘Passerby Blue’, were used in the set of the upcoming psychological thriller Undertow, filmed on the Victorian surf coast. It’ll be fun trying to spot them when the movie opens at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

 
Feb 5th was delivery and hanging day for ‘Fire and Life’, a 2 x 3 metre commission for a private collector. It was such a thrill seeing the painting on the wall of their beautiful home surrounded by the landscape that inspired it. Read more

 
I’m ending the year with four paintings showing at Hawthorn Studio and Gallery. The Summer Exhibition runs until 28 February 2018 and follows the ‘New Directions 2017’ exhibition which also including my works.

If you’re in Melbourne, pop by this beautiful gallery. Hawthorn Studio and Gallery is located at 635 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East. Director Angela Foote and her husband, master sculptor Graeme Foote who works in the adjoining open studio, have been running galleries and studios for over 20 years; they’re a well of knowledge and experience.

 
Just a few days after flying back into Australia from my artist residency in Finland, I was on a ferry travelling across the bay to attend a two-week residency in Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula (2 – 15 October). The Police Point Artist in Residence Program was my first residency in Australia and I was totally blown away. The coastal landscapes, birdlife, and the privacy, tranquility and views from the gatekeepers cottage were unsurpassable. I also struck gold with the sunny Spring days and cool sea breezes.

Having just come from Finland lakes and forests, the contrast of the rugged coastline was dramatic. I was seeing the Australian landscape with new eyes, with awe and appreciation. Sensing its mood and conveying my feelings through paint. The two weeks flew by and I’ll be making day trips back to the region to do more paintings.

I am incredibly grateful to Mornington Peninsula Shire for this experience. View paintings

In September I travelled to Finland for a one-month artist residency in Hämeenkyrö. The region is traditional Finnish countryside with beautiful landscapes, forests and hundreds of lakes. During the residency I sketched and painted in situ in the forest and by lakes, and in my studio from memory and photos. I completed the series back in my home studio, then drove the paintings 10 hours around the coast up to Canberra for a show at the Embassy of Finland.

The opening on 27 November was a memorable night, I was interviewed by the Ambassador of Finland Lars Backström and had a great time chatting about the works and Finland with the Finnish community.

The exhibition runs until 31 January 2018 (extended until 23 March). Read more.

The Back to Back Theatre Portraits are being exhibited in the Curved Wall Gallery at the Frankston Arts Centre, Melbourne, from 19 October to 9 December 2017. I’m so grateful to curator Milla Dakovic for her interest and thrilled that many theatre and arts lovers will get to see these works.

In 2016 I collaborated with Back to Back Theatre, creating portraits of the ensemble actors and the artistic director. Back to Back Theatre is a leading voice in contemporary world theatre. Based in my hometown, the company makes work locally and tours extensively to major festivals and cultural institutions across the globe. Read more.

The Curved Wall Gallery is at Frankston Arts Centre, 27-37 Davey St, Frankston, Melbourne Australia.

 
Over the next few months, I’m painting landscapes for a show in the gallery at Epworth Hospital. Halcyon Days is an exhibition of landscape paintings capturing idyllic times of calm and happiness. The show will run from 12 July to 1 October 2017 at Epworth Gallery, 1 Epworth Place, Waurn Ponds, Australia.

 
Expressions of Landscape has come to an end and I’m back to the brushes and paints in my studio. Thanks to Rob and Ilze at Metropolis Gallery for their ongoing support, Rob is an awesome curator and valued mentor. Paintings can still be viewed online and purchased through Metropolis.