I
still live at Connewarran,
where my family has been for several generations, but I travel extensively to
other parts of the world to fulfil commissions and gather field information. Home Originals Giclee Prints Serigraphs Reproductions Books Biography
Observation of my surroundings developed as a child on a sheep and cattle station in western Victoria, where I was surrounded by the wildlife that was to inspire me to paint.
I
still live at Connewarran,
where my family has been for several generations, but I travel extensively to
other parts of the world to fulfil commissions and gather field information.
All children paint and draw – perhaps I never grew up! While at Cambridge University I carved two sculptures from the walnut of an old broken gun-stock. These were seen by a London Gallery, and my career as an artist began.
Under the guidance of Robert Gillmor and David Reid Henry, influential British wildlife artists, I began painting. This led to two solo exhibitions in London and my first love affair with Africa . It was there I learnt much about bushcraft, biology and tracking from helping in wildlife research. As well I developed drawing and painting skills.
An introduction to falconry began a lifelong involvement with studying and rehabilitating birds of prey.
On my return to Australia I became the Foundation President (for seven years) of the Society of Wildlife Artists of Australasia, exhibiting works at their exhibitions. During that period I spent much time on field work and environmental surveys throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea. This culminated in the Collector's Edition book “The Fairy-Wrens – a Monograph of the Maluridae” – recognised with a Whitley Award, and exhibitions of paintings at the Australian Galleries, Melbourne.
I explore many media, watercolour, gouache, oils and produce screen-prints and etchings. Through the publishing company, Connewarran Press, I issue limited edition Prints and Reproductions.
In the mid eighties I was
invited by Ducks Unlimited Canada to paint the American Wood Duck for their
portfolio “Waterfowl of North America.” I was the only artist from the southern hemisphere invited to participate
and spent three months travelling in the US to assemble sketches for that and
other commissions.
During the early nineties I was invited by ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) to be part of the Ecosystem Monitoring Project for the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. I spent several months working out of Mawson Base, setting up the research project and studying Adelie Penguins. This extraordinary Antarctic experience inspired volumes of sketches and many paintings.
I returned to Africa, guiding a group of ornithologists on a tour of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, canoeing the Zambesi and returning to the Karoo in South Africa. Time spent in Mexico and Thailand has furnished further experiences for paintings.
Some of my energies lately have been devoted to developing new revegetation techniques and serving as inaugural Chairman of Watershed 2000 – an award winning project which encompasses the wider community in all aspects of the management of their catchment area. A central part of the programme involves the restoration and management of a biolink of 800,000 hectares of habitat to act as a 200 km connection between the Otway Forest and the Grampians Ranges in Victoria.
I now have a second studio in the Grampians, where I am developing sketches from my journeys through Africa, Antarctica and northern and central Australia into larger oil, gouache and watercolour paintings. Some of these were shown at my 2006 one man show, but there are many exciting ideas to come.
My motivation for painting is simply to share with others a personal vision of some elusive moment in the wild.
If you would like more information please contact me at richard@connewarran.com.au