Gwendolin attended the Swinburne College of Graphic Art and Design (Melbourne) in the 1960s and began her art career in the Graphic Art industry in Melbourne. Ten years or more in this career saw her designing and creating for clients and commercial applications. She later studied a Diploma in painting and drawing and the love of creating and designing was never far for the next 30 years .
In 2001 she studied a degree in Fine Art majoring in painting at Newcastle University.
Her major interests are painting in oils and soft pastels using the best quality pigment available. She has won many awards for her paintings including the Newcastle Art Prize and many smaller awards for work including the Newcastle Maritime Prize.
Living in Newcastle, NSW I find my paintings are influenced by the working harbour, the port, the surrounding coal ships and the everchanging scenery which is seen within it in on a daily basis. I find the architecture of the giant ships and the enormity of the coal industry within the harbour a fascinating series of subjects to work with. She works as an arts tutor and holds workshops throughout the Newcastle region.
Styles can vary from colourful graphic images to moody pastels with industrial feel.
Gwendolin works from sketches and digital photography in the studio and paints in either oils on canvas or soft pastels on paper. Teaching a class of 6 to 10 students once a week requires study to present new material for each class. Overseas residencies have included Cornwall and a recently completed 5 week residency painting at La Macina in San Cresci Tuscany Italy.
She currently paints at her own studio in Mayfield, a suburb of Newcastle, NSW.
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Awards & Achievements
Bachelor of Fine Art Newcastle University 2001
Exhibiting History
Australian Society of Marine Artists, Darling Harbour
Balmain Watchhouse
Newport Marine Festival
Newcastle Art prize 2012
Norville Art Prize 2012
Breeza public hall exhibition 2013
Gunnedah Community Art Gallery 2013
Solo exhibitions 2014
John Hunter Hospital 2014
Haydon Hall Murrurundi 2014
Royal Art Society Sydney 2016, 2017
C Studios Gallery Newcastle 2015, 2016, 2017
Gosford Regional Art Prize 2016
Singleton Art Show 2016
Singleton Art Show 2017
Hunter Valley Grammer School 2017
Hunter Valley Grammer School 2019
Art Prizes
Highly Commended Newcastle Art Prize Oil 2011
Newcastle Agricultural Show 1st works on paper. Pastel 2011
Newcastle Art Prize. 1st Pastel overall winner 2011
Newcastle Art Prize. 1st Pastel section 2012
Port Stephens Maritime Prize. 1st Oil 2012
Highly commended Pt Stephens Art Show Oil 2013
Highly commended Pastel …Singleton art show 2013
Highly commended Pastel …Newcastle Art Prize 2013
Highly commended Pastel …Newcastle Art prize 2014
3rd in Henry Lawson Prize Dunnedo 2015
2nd PASTEL country members , Pastel Society of Australia 2015
1st Maritime / Industrial Prize. Newcastle Art Prize
Society of Artists Newcastle 2015 .
2nd Singleton Rotary Art Show 2015
2nd Port Stephens Landscape Prize 2015
Highly commended Singleton Art Show 2016
Highly commended Singleton Art Show 2017
Work on Paper Prize Hunter Valley Grammar School 2017
Drawing Prize Hunter Valley Grammar School 2019
2nd Pastel Society of Australia 2020