Since taking up painting in 2002, first in watercolour then other mediums, Hugh has built on a strong drawing background, attending many painting workshops with some of the best Australian artists. Working primarily in watercolours and pen & wash, he finds some subjects lend themselves to pastels, acrylics, charcoal or oils.
Hugh’s interested in a wide range of subjects from marine subjects to still-life and portraits, but has a natural affinity for the sea and the great age of sail from spending most holidays as a child at their family’s seaside cottage, and from helping to restore, and now sail, the 1000 tonne iron barque ‘James Craig’ as a Watch Leader in the all-volunteer crew. Climbing the 33m high masts and doing overnight passage provides him with a wealth of material from which to draw inspiration. Indeed he is often seen drawing or painting whilst at sea or alongside.
He has won a number of awards in regional art exhibitions, and undertakes commissions (including painting weddings live) and does some teaching and demonstrations in pen and wash, and watercolour. He is currently undertaking a Diploma of Fine Art at the Royal Art Society of NSW. He pursues his passion by sketching and painting outdoors, and while on holiday, as well as painting with other enthusiasts from the Society of Artists Newcastle of which he is the current President.
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Awards & Achievements
Affiliations
Society of Artists Newcastle (President)
Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) – Exhibiting Member
Awards
2020 Highly Commended – 2020 Newcastle Art Prize
2019 Jenny Lemone Hill (Scholarship) Award – Royal Art Society of NSW
2019 Encouragement Award for Portraiture – Royal Art Society of NSW
2019 Highly Commended – Anglican Care Hunter Auxiliary Art & Craft Fair
2018 Watercolour Award – Royal Art Society Student Exhibition
2018 Highly Commended (Watercolour) – Newcastle Art Prize
2017 Peter Dorahy Art School Drawing Award – Highly Commended – Royal Art Society Student Exhibition
2016 Commended (Miniatures Prize) – Singleton Art Prize
2016 Highly Commended – Newcastle Art Prize
2016 1st Prize in Water Medium – Dobell Art Festival
2016 1st Prize for Scenes from Weston – 2016 Weston Art Show
2016 1st Prize in Pen and wash – Morisset and Lake Macquarie District Show
2016 2nd and 3rd Prize – Oil – Morisset and Lake Macquarie District Show
2015 Best Watercolour – 2015 Weston Art and Craft Show
2015 Pastel Award – 2015 Royal Art Society Student Exhibition
2012 Commended – 2012 Newcastle Art Prize
2010 Highly Commended – 2010 Newcastle Art Prize