Special Projects Gallery
Anzac Centenary Painting 1914-1918
I remember watching the Melbourne ANZAC parade on television in 2013 and was inspired to create a lasting tribute to those that served and sacrificed. Not long after that I approached Bendigo District RSL President Cliff Richards to discuss my vision and he jumped at the idea!
I worked closely with Bendigo Military Museum Curator Peter Ball and Cliff to identify themes throughout the painting. I asked them to envisage what the finished painting might look like. I also had my own themes that I wanted to incorporate.
I created a pencil sketch from my extensive research which took 60 hours to complete. A couple of themes were changed in consultation with Cliff and then the image was drawn on the canvas and the magic began. The painting was completed in oils and is 2.0m x 1.5m in size, it was a 400 hour labour of love and tears!
This painting is about people, real people like you and I who were thrust into extraordinary and unimaginable circumstances. They weren't just soldiers or nurses as we see them in the painting, they had mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends, a large majority didn't return to this lucky country of ours.
I hope that as you reflect on the painting you will see the people behind the uniforms who had the same thoughts, the same fears and the same ambitions as you and I.
Williamstown Football Club 150th Anniversary
Uncovering the stories of the people and places is always a joy when working on a design for such a historic anniversary. This 300 + hour painting was designed to tell the story of the club from their first premiership flag in 1907 through to their triumphant victory in 2003. Iconic faces and places are seamlessly woven together throughout the painting including the five inductees into the hall of fame, Point Gellibrand Oval and Williamstown historic Port. The painting features many facmous faces including Barry Round, Terry Wheeler, Ron Todd, Bill and Dane Swan to name a few.
150 limited edition prints were created to mark this unique occasion with each copy hand signed by the games record holder at the time (Troy West) and the Captain of the Team of the Century (Gerry 'Monster” Callahan).
If you would like to order a superbly framed, limited edition hand signed print then please send me an email.
Maryborough Highland Gathering 150th Anniversary 2011
The Maryborough Highland Gathering has been conducted each New Year since its formation in 1857 with the enforced exception of the years of 1942- 45 when the Australian Commonwealth was at war and the Highland Gathering went into recess for the duration of this national crisis.
I was commissioned by the Highland Society Board in 2010 to create a lasting tribute to the event as part of the 150th anniversary of the games. Having attended the event as a child with my mother and grandmother and also working on the gate with my grandfather I was excited to create a concept that would show the colour, movement and energy of this iconic event.
This magnificent oil painting is 2.0m x 1.5m in size and combines traditional Scottish themes with Australian
sports, recreation and athletics and hangs proudly in the entrance foyer of the Maryborough Highland Society, Victoria, Australia.
