My contemporary landscapes are concerned with the mountains and valleys that surround me at Beechmont, in the Gold Coast hinterland. My family has lived in the area for four generations and I now live and work in a studio, which I built on the edge of Lamington National Park. My Grandfather, Arthur Groom established Binna Burra Lodge on the edge of Lamington National Park and my parents continued with the management of the lodge, which led my sister and I to develop a great appreciation for the surrounding landscape of rainforest and open eucalypt forest. My Grandmother, Margorie Groom was a potter and has a number of works in the Queensland Gallery.
I believe the best way to capture the essence of the landscape is to live in it. This enables me to observe the constantly changing forms, colours, textures and light at different times of day and to watch the processes of nature. My work is a personal journey of observing our natural landscape.
I've always had an interest in drawing and studied art through my school years and continued that interest by completing a degree in Graphic Design. I soon realised I had little interest in a career as a Graphic Designer and after some time of soul searching and travelling through Europe I came home to discover a new awareness of our unique landscape. Its timeless beauty inspired me to start drawing again. This began in 1994. In 1997 I began building my studio, which took 3 years to complete.
I admire Australian landscape artists including Fred Williams, Arthur Boyd and William Robinson. I'm also taken by Jeffery Smart, Georgia O'Keefe and Edward Hopper, all very much landscape artists, with a great ability to contrast the landscape with the human condition. My family's connection to the landscape I live in, is also a huge influence.
Being an artist is a wonderful life of dedicated isolation, especially a life as a landscape artist. My art practice is pretty much a daily ritual, whether it's drawing, painting, or observing the landscape. If I'm working towards an exhibition, I'll often begin with a number of graphite or charcoal drawings that help me come up with a theme and style of work. I think working with a theme and developing that theme through a body of work is the best way to produce work that has strength and a timeless quality to it. I love the sense of discovery that you experience as an artist. You discover new ways of creating as well as a sense of self. This is achieved through a constant practice, a daily ritual of immersing yourself in the natural environment.
Exhibitions
Individual Exhibitions
2023 - Christmas Show - Studio Gallery - Beechmont
2023 - Through the Trees - Petrie Terrace Gallery - Brisbane
2021 - Rain Birds - Studio Gallery - Beechmont
2020 - Surreal Nature - Tweed Regional Gallery - Murwillumbah
2019 - From The Ridge - Petrie Terrace Gallery - Brisbane
2018 - Open Studios - Studio Gallery - Beechmont
2017 - Open Studios - Studio Gallery - Beechmont
2016 - Christmas Show - Studio Gallery - Beechmont
2015 - Places of Lamington - Graydon Gallery - Brisbane
2014 - Trees of the Forest - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2014 - Metamorphosis - The Centre - Beaudesert
2013 - Metamorphosis - Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2013 - Autumn - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2012 - Mountains and Mist - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2011 - A Paradise Somewhere - Retrospect Galleries
2010 - Birds of the Forest - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2009 - Recent Paintings and Drawings - Doggett St Studio
2009 - New Work - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2008 - Coomera - Doggett Street Studio - Brisbane
2008 - Back Creek to Bithongabel - Marks and Gardner Gallery
2007 - Caldera - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2007 - One mountain after another - Stanthorpe Regional Gallery
2006 - From the Ridge - Doggett Street Studio - Brisbane
2006 - Along the Ridge - Dickerson Gallery Melbourne
2005 - From the mountains to the sea - Boonah Regional Gallery
2005 - Morning fire, afternoon sun - Doggett Street Studio - Brisbane
2003 - Paintings and Drawings - Rex Irwin Gallery Shop - Sydney
2003 - Ridgeline, Doggett Street Studio - Brisbane
2002 - Mountains and Valleys - Doggett Street Studio - Brisbane
2001 - On the Edge of a Mountain - Binna Burra Lodge Qld
2000 - Afterglow - Binna Burra Lodge Qld
1996 - Dimension Intrusion - Golden Gallery, Metro Arts - Brisbane.
1994 - Flowers and Fruitbowls - 71a Loop Rd - Lower Beechmont
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 - Art of Imagination - Petrie Terrace Gallery - Brisbane
2023 - Lethbridge Landscape Art Prize - Lethbridge Gallery - Brisbane
2022 - Lethbridge Landscape Art Prize - Lethbridge Gallery - Brisbane
2021 - Regeneration - The Centre - Beaudesert
2021 - Embrace - Brisbane Grammar School
2021- Lethbridge Landscape Art Prize - Lethbridge Gallery - Brisbane
2019 - Aurum - Brisbane Grammar School
2018 - Momentum Show - Brisbane Grammar School - Brisbane
2018 - Morris Art Prize - Carrara Markets Exhibition Hall - Gold Coast
2018 - Green Behind the Gold - One Arts Gallery - Gold Coast
2018 - Stanthorpe Art Prize - Stanthorpe Regional Gallery
2017 - The Big Landscape Show - Art Images Gallery - Adelaide
2017 - Downlands Art Exhibition - Downlands College - Toowoomba
2017 - Evolve - Brisbane Grammar School - Brisbane
2017 - Arts in the Olives - Kerry Valley - Qld
2017 - Works on Paper - Hilltop Gallery - Mt Tamborine
2017 - Artists Response to the Landscape - The Centre - Beaudesert
2016 - Under The Greenwood Tree Group Show - Heritage Wines - Mt Tamborine
2016 - Arts in the Olives - Kerry Valley - Qld
2016 - Clayton Utz Art Award - Clayton Utz - Brisbane
2016 - Lethbridge 10 000 - Lethbridge Gallery - Brisbane
2016 - Rotary Art Spectacular - Central Plaza One - Brisbane
2015 - The Big Landscape Show - Art Images Gallery - Adelaide
2015 - Signatures Fine Art Exhibition - Samford Valley - Qld
2014 - Arts in the Olives - Kerry Valley - Qld
2014 - New York Art Fair - Marks and Gardner Gallery - New York
2014 - Work from the Stockroom - Marks and Gardner Gallery - Mt Tamborine
2013 - Home - St Lucia Tower - Brisbane
2012 - Loves Letters to the Rim - The Centre Beaudesert
2012 - Bibliophile Show - Marks and Gardner Gallery - Mt Tamborine
2012 - Summer Exhibition - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2011 - Petit Show - Retrospect Galleries - Gold Coast
2011 - Retrospect Opening - Gold Coast
2009 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2009 - Exquisite - Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2009 - Allure - The Kiln Gallery - Brisbane
2008 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2008 - Time of Transition - Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2008 - Mater Foundation Fundraiser Auction - Q1 Surfers Paradise
2008 - Summer Exhibition - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2007 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio Brisbane
2007 - Gallipoli Art and Jazz - Greenslopes Private Hospital
2007 - St Bernards Art Prize - Mt Tamborine
2007 - Doing the Davids - Marks and Gardner Gallery - Mt Tamborine
2007 - Land, Sea and Sky - Dickerson Gallery Melbourne
2006 - Conrad Jupiters Art Prize - Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2006 - Art Sydney, Horden Pavilion - Rex Irwin Art Dealer - Sydney
2006 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2005 - Art Sydney, Horden Pavilion - Rex Irwin Art Dealer - Sydney
2005 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
2004 - Beechmont Artworkers - Robina Community Gallery - Gold Coast
2004 - Sydney Art Fair - Horden Pavilion - Rex Irwin Art Dealer - Sydney
2004 - Hutchins Art Prize - Long Gallery, Salamanca Place - Hobart
2004 - Churchie Emerging Art Exhibition - East Brisbane
2004 - Doggett Christmas Show - Doggett St Studio - Brisbane
1996 - Black and White - The Contemporary Art and Design - Brisbane
Awards
2007 - Winner, St Bernards Art Prize :$5000 Aquisitive
2007 - Winner, Varro Clarke Award :$1000 Aquisitive
2005 - Highly Commended, Boonah Arts Festival
2002 - Winner, Jimboomba Art Prize
2002 - Winner, Peoples Choice, Beechmont Art Prize
Grants
2002 - Regional Arts and Development Fund recipient from Beaudesert Shire. Received to paint a mural of geological features and flaura and fauna of the southeast Queensland landscape, for the Beechmont State School.
Public Collections
Gold Coast City Art Gallery
Jimboomba Public Library
Beechmont State School
Corporate Collections
Gold Coast Griffith University Hospital
Brisbane Mater Private Hospital
St Bernards Hotel
Binna Burra Lodge
Brisbane Grammar School
Artist-in-Residence
Courageous Conversation, Gondwana Centre 2005 and 2006
Other Media Publications
Daily News 2007
Courier Mail 2007
Education
1990 - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design, Queensland College of Art, Morningside.