Profile
Douglas graduated from Hornsey Art School, later called Middlesex Polytechnic, London, in 1976 with a BA Hons in Fine Art.
He had the good fortune to receive a year’s French Scholarship to Les Beaux Arts in Aix en Provence in the same year, where he explored the new and refreshing Mediterranean light and landscape.
After returning to England to complete a year’s postgraduate teaching degree from Leeds University in ’77, the first taste of the Mediterranean drew him back to develop his painting and drawing. This time he travelled to Italy in a combi van with 100 pounds in his pocket, and armed with paints, brushes and easel, he discovered another world of stimulating and inspirational images. This valuable time also allowed him to learn the language better and meet other artists.
On the streets of Bologna, Florence and Venice, and around Tuscany, Douglas attempted his first tentative drawings and watercolours, learning much to do with light, drawing, colour and the new experience of painting from life, old cities and the landscape.
It was an invaluable experience and it helped form a solid foundation for his painting career, and the confidence to live from painting.
Travel and the sense of adventure led him to Australia in 1982, where he continued to paint to fund his travels and discover a new country. It was a different challenge to interpret the vastness of the landscape, its light and colours all of which contrast with those of Europe. This is where he wanted to “hang his hat”.
After starting married life in Fremantle in 1984 where his two daughters were born, he moved to the Yallingup area in 1991 and established a home and studio where he continues to work full time at his painting and the challenges of interpreting this country’s contrasting landscape.
Since 1985 Douglas has travelled many times to the north to paint including the Pilbara, Kimberley, Murchison as well as the Northern Territory . The north will always have a fascination and be an endless source of inspiration. The timeless, vast and spiritual nature of its land has a power which has not been felt anywhere else.
The immediate surroundings of his home, the bush and the rugged beauty of the coast, are also the inspiration for his art.
His work is represented locally at The Studio Gallery, Yallingup, at Linton and Kay Galleries in Perth, and Black Stump Gallery Broome.
Douglas’ paintings hang in private and corporate collections in Australia and throughout the world.
Artist Statement
The experience gained in the formative years of painting and drawing from life has helped train my eye to observe. My work is often about light and how it falls on landscape. The landscape forms the basis of my subject matter whether figuratively or simply exploring its abstract properties. The ancient qualities and size of Australian landscape also contribute to the challenge of interpreting it through painting.
My art is expressed through the language of painting by my reaction to a visual experience. It may be landscape, the play of light over a subject, the movement of water, the colour of rock, but I am compelled and inspired to put it down on paper or canvas and develop it further in the studio.
The process and purpose of making art is my way of reasoning my position in the world whose beauty I attempt to reflect and capture.
Curriculum Vitae
Studies & Professional Experience
1972-76
B.A. (Hons) Fine Art- City & Guilds & Hornsey Art School, London.
1976-77
1 Year French Scholarship, Ecole de Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence.
1977-78
1 Year Post-graduate Art Teacher’s Certificate, Leeds University.
1978-82
Traveled and painted in Italy, France and Austria, specialising in watercolours, landscapes and portraits.
1982-84
Arrived in Australia, March 1982. Traveled and painted widely until September 1984.
Oct-1984
Gained permanent residency in Australia and started painting full-time. Paints Pilbara, Kimberley, Northern Territory, Settled in South West of Western Australia. Subsequent painting trips made to Nepal and Europe taking in Tuscany France and Portugal.
1999
2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca, Tuscany.
2000
2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca, Tuscany.
2001
3 week Painting and Teaching trip to Greece.
2002
2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca, Tuscany.
Awards
2007
Winner of Vasse Primary School Art Exhition.
2006
Cossack Art Award, Pilbara Landscape Category.
2006
Joint Winner Vasse Primary School Art Prize.
2000
People’s Choice, Cossack Art Prize.
2000
Finalist for Mandorla Art Prize.
1995
Finalist for Mandorla Art Prize.
1993
Wild West Hyundai Art Prize, Gillian Aitken Award.
1991
Katanning Art Prize, Water based Medium.
1987
Subiaco Rotary Art Club Prize.
1986
Subiaco Rotary Art Club Prize.
1985
Williams Watercolour Prize.
Representations
St John of God Hospital Bendat Cancer Centre, Subiaco, Western Australia.
Private collections in Europe, USA, Israel, Australia.
Corporate Collections In Japan, USA, China, Australia
The Holmes a Court Collection
Rumanian Government
Dominion Gold Mines
The Weld Club
Westpac
Wesfarmers
Kerry Stokes
Reserve Bank
E.U. Delegation Office, Canberra
Millbrook Winery, Jarrahdale, WA
Hamersley Iron
Monastery Gallery Collection
Alinta Gas
New Norcia, WA
Evans and Tate Wines
Cape Bouvard
Kalgoorlie College Art Department Collection
Hale School Collection
Pilbara Iron
Illustrations for 3 poems in "Songs of The Possum" by Bill Mather-Brown
Solo Exhibitions
2012
Linton & Kay – Shenton Park, Perth.
2009
Monsoon Galley – Broome, WA.
2008
Monsoon Gallery – Featured Artist – Broome, WA.
2007
Moonsoon Gallery – Broome, WA.
2006
Delshan Gallery – Armadale, Victoria.
2005
Monsoon Gallery – Broome WA.
2004
Stafford Studios – Perth WA.
2004
Delshan Gallery – Armadale, Victoria.
2003
Monsoon Gallery – Broome, WA.
2002
Evans and Tate Wines Visitor’s Centre Opening – WA.
2000
Stafford Studios – Perth WA.
2000
Monsoon Gallery – Broome WA.
1999
Beaver Galleries – ACT.
1997
Stafford Studios – Perth, W.A.
1996
Gunyulgup Galleries – Yallingup, W.A.
1995
Stafford Studios – Perth.
1995
Beaver Galleries – A.C.T.
1995
Holdsworth Gallery – Sydney.
1994
Gunyulgup Galleries, Yallingup, W.A.
1993
Stafford Studios, Perth.
1991
Beaver Galleries.
1991
Arts Darwin Gallery, Darwin.
1990
Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney.
1990
Goodridge Gallery, Perth.
1988
Goodridge Gallery, Perth.
1987
’Pilbara Light’ Exhibition, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.
1986
Goodridge Gallery, Perth.
1986
Ric’s Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth.
1985
Tresilian Community Centre, Perth.
Group Exhibitions
2023
The Studio Gallery - Yallingup
2007
Stafford Studios – Cottesloe, WA.
2007
Yallingup Galleries Garden Art Studio – WA.
2006
Gecko Gallery – Broome – WA.
2003-06
Yallingup Galleries Garden Art Studio – WA.
2001
Stafford Studios – Perth, W.A.
1998-99
Stafford Studios – Perth, W.A.
1998
Monsoon Gallery , Broome, WA.
1996
Pierrepiont Gallery, Newark, England.
1996
Abney Gallery New York, N.Y.
1991
Gallery at Carillion, Perth.
1989
Blaxland Gallery, Sydney.
1989
Relief Print Portfolio, "Western Sight", Perth Galleries.
1987
Fremantle Arts Centre.
1986
Two Man "Festival of Perth", Editions Gallery, Fremantle.
1984-85
Group Shows in Perth and Fremantle.
1983
Balmain Art Gallery, Sydney
1980-81
Austria and Italy
