Anita West

BORN  1965  Brisbane, Australia

STUDIES
Qualified secondary school Art and English teacher:
1986 (1 year) Graduate Diploma in Education at Gippsland College of Advanced Education, Victoria
1982-1985  (3 year) Diploma in Fine Art at TAFE, Townsville

Artist Statement
My work is a dichotomy of fragmented images drawn from my experiences of the beach and bush. I grew up in Townsville ,and on Christmas holidays my family would drive down the notorious Bruce Highway and stay for weeks on the Gold Coast  beaches. As kids we would  laze about  under the strong shadows of beach umbrellas in the glaring midday sun and play cricket late into the afternoon. I remember the colourful patterns of  togs, towels, hats and strong blue skies.  These images ,and  the many holidays at the beach with my own family are the inspiration I use to help me create a lyrical narrative of Australian beach life that so many of us have experienced.

Studying a Diploma of Art in Townsville in the mid 80s, I  was under the tuition of Anneke Silver and Bob Preston who were both mentors in my early painting career. I was an avid horserider and during vacations, I worked as a Jillaroo on sheep and cattle stations where I continued my love affair with the outback and left me with  a deep sense of belonging and connection.

A career in teaching art at high schools followed, but the urge to create my own art was a constant preoccupation until finally when living in the USA for two years, I gave up the security of teaching to pursue my passion. Exhibitions in artist-run studios and small commercial galleries were encouraging.  Early in my career I  explored a variety of different styles – naïve art, figurative art, abstraction, miniature art particularly manuscripts with their borders and fine detail, and mixed media. I visited different cultures, walked the Kokoda Trail (nearly died from Malaria) and travelled throughout Australia.
From 1997 to 2005 I was represented exclusively by Robertsons Design, a Queensland based, international interior design and architectural company. I had three major exhibitions with them, showing large scale paintings on canvas as well as generating stock supplied during the year. I am now represented by Harvey Galleries in Sydney.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 Abundance, Harvey Galleries, Sydney
2016 Back to the High Country, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2015 Bush Poetic, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2014 Bush, Land, Beach, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2013 Wild Places of Home, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2012 In the Summertime, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2011    Sand, Salt and Spinifex, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney; 18 landscapes
2010    Life, Love, Landscape, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney;   27 paintings (Sold out)
2009    Places of My Heart,Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney: 28 paintings (Sold out)
2008    New Works:  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2006    Down to Earth;   Doggett St Studio  Brisbane
2006    The Stone Garden:  Logan Regional Art Gallery
2006    Testing the Waters :  Redlands Regional Art Gallery
2003    Illumina:    Robertsons Interior Design Gallery, Gold Coast  (Sold out)
2002    Recent Paintings:   Robertsons Design,  Gold Coast  (Sold out)
2001    New Paintings ;  Robertsons Interior Design,  Gold Coast (Sold out)
1994    A Landscape Response ;    Art and Design Gallery, Woollongabba
1994    Figures:   Eagle St.Pier Exhibition Space, Brisbane
1993    Echoes of a Landscape McWhirters Art Space Fortitude Valley
1990    Impressions : The Palms Gallery Townsville
1989    New Guinea Beginnings: Umbrella Studio Townsville
1988    Neo-Primitive ;  Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010    Earth and Life;  Toscani’s restaurant; Victoria Point QLD
2010    Painters of the Coast Gallery One Gold Coast
2010    Art for Art’s Sake Brisbane
2009    Rotary Art Spectacular  Brisbane
2008    ArtSydney08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2008    Art Melbourne08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2008    ArtBrisbane08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2007    Selected for Abused Child Trust Annual Art Show, Brisbane
2007    Selected for Brisbane Grammer School Art Show, Brisbane
2007    St Martin’s Art Show; Brisbane
2007    Selected for Art for Art Sake Charity Art Show, Brisbane
2006    Doggett St Christmas Exhibition, Brisbane
2006    Floriate;   Marks and Gardner Gallery Mt Tamborine
2006    Brisbane Grammar School Art Show
2006    Abused Child Trust Annual Art Show, Brisbane
2005    Courier Mail Home Show;  Brisbane
2004    Courier Mail Home Show ; Brisbane
1995    Connect 2 ;  Joint exhibition at Stephens Gallery, Brisbane
1992    Group show at Multiple Choice Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
1985    Final Year TAFE show at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

‘Soul’ Apartment Towers, Gold coast
ABN Amro Morgans
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Westpac Bank HongKong
Juniper Group
Sheraton Hotel Group Gold Coast
Johnson & Johnson Sydney
Storm Financial Melbourne
Storm Financial Sydney
Storm Financial Brisbane
Jumeirah Suite Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi
Brian Tucker Accounting

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2016 Finalist Pro Hart Outback Art Prize – FIRST PRIZE WINNER (acquisitive)
2016 Finalist Border Art Prize
2016 Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular WINNER OF BEST ACRYLIC IN SHOW
2016 Finalist Stanthorpe Art Prize RUNNER UP PEOPLE’S CHOICE
2016 Finalist Finalist Waterhouse Art Prize HIGHLY COMMENDED
2016 Finalist John Leslie Art Prize
2016 Finalist Redland Art Prize WINNER OF MEREDITH FOX PEOPLE’S CHOICE
2015 Calleen Art Award – PEOPLE CHOICE WINNER and HIGHLY COMMENDED
2014 Mosman Art Prize – PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
2014 Finalist Redland Art Award – PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
2014 Finalist Calleen Art Award – PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
2014 Finalist Stanthorpe Art Prize
2014 Finalist Moreton Bay Art Prize
2014 Finalist Norvill Art Prize
2014 Finalist Clayton Utz Art Award
2010    Finalist Art for Art’s Sake Brisbane
2009    Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular  Brisbane
2009    Finalist Pine Rivers Art Award
2008    ArtSydney08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2008    Art Melbourne08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2008    ArtBrisbane08;  Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery
2007    Abused Child Trust Annual Art Show, Brisbane
2007    Brisbane Grammer School Art Show, Brisbane
2007    St Martin’s Art Show; Brisbane
2007    Art for Art Sake Charity Art Show, Brisbane
2006    Doggett St Christmas Exhibition, Brisbane
2006    Floriate;   Marks and Gardner Gallery Mt Tamborine
2006    Brisbane Grammar School Art Show
2006    Abused Child Trust Annual Art Show, Brisbane
2006    Finalist Redland Arts Award
2006    Finalist Regional Arts Award
2006    Joint First Prize – Gloria Beletz Drawing Prize
2006    Highly Commended Nudgee Art Show
2005    Finalist Regional Arts Award
2005    Courier Mail Home Show
2004    Courier Mail Home Show ; Brisbane
1995     Connect 2 ;  Joint exhibition Stephens Gallery, Brisbane City Hall
1992     Group show at Multiple Choice Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
1991     First Prize;  King of Prussia Drawing Award; USA
1985     Final Year TAFE show at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville
1985     Joint First Prize Drawing Award  Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville
1992     First Prize Delaware County Painting Award USA

EMPLOYMENT

1995- current;   Practicing artist
1994    Administrator Qld School of Printing & Graphic Arts; Morningside
1992    Teacher of Adult and Further Education classes in watercolour, drawing and painting
1991    Employed by Philadelphia college of Fine Art for 12 months USA
1990    1 year as Art Teacher at Catholic High School Philadelphia, USA
1989    2 years as Art Teacher at Townsville State High School Townsville
1987    2 years as Art Teacher at Pimlico State High School Townsville

RESIDENCIES

2009    Attended workshop with Elizabeth Cummings (3 days)
2007    Attended the Girraween Retreat with June Tupicoff
2006    Attended the Eungella Retreat in Mackay with Wendy Teakel  (6 days)
2005    Attended the Magnetic Island Retreat in Townsville with Anneke Silver (6 days)
2004    Attended the “Living the Landscape” workshop at Cunnamulla with Mandy Martin ( 6 days)
2003    Attended the Cooee Bay Workshop, Yeppoon with Bill Ferguson (14 days)
2002    Attended the Moreton Island Art Camp with Stephen Newton ( 3 days )
2001    Attended the “Drawing from the Landscape” Toowoomba with David Hawkes ( 6 days)
2000    Attended the Mortimers Art Workshop with Judith White NSW ( 7 days)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2011    Opening Guest speaker; Mammas in the Hood; group show at Pine Rivers Regional Gallery
2011    Artist talk; open studio
2011    Guest speaker; South East Creative Generator Forum
2011    Guest Judge;   Yurara Art Society Easter Art Competition
2010    Presentation;  Brisbane Artist Development Group
2010    Artist Talk; open studio
2010    Artist Talk; TVH Gallery opening night
2010    Artist Talk; Gallery One opening night Painters of the Coast

COMMISSIONS

2011      2 corporate commissions; Soul Apartment Towers; Gold Coast
2011      2 corporate commissions;  Abu Dhabi ; Etihad Towers; Presidential Suite
2010     8 Private commissions ; Sydney
2009     Private commission; canvas size 140 x 180cm
2008     2 Corporate Commissions for Storm Financial  Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
2007     Art Nomad collection;  4 landscape paintings  100cm x 200cm
2005     Private commission;  ABN-AMRO Morgans, Brisbane canvas size 90 x 90cm
2005     Corporate commission-Storm Financial, Sydney; canvas size 1700 x 1080mm
2004     Private collection; canvas size 1500 x 1000mm
2004     Corporate collection- Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast; 66sets of 5 original artworks @ 300x 300mm
2004     Private collection – Gold Coast; canvas size 2000 x 1750mm
2003     Private collection; canvas size 350 x 1150mm
2003     Corporate collection-Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast; 6 paintings, canvas size 800 x 800mm
2003     Private collection; canvas size 200 x 550mm
2003     Private collection; canvas size 1200 x 1800mm
2002     Private collection; canvas size 1720 x 1080mm
2002     Corporate collection-Gold Coast Marketing office; 3 paintings on paper size 1400 x 1000mm
2002     Corporate collection – Bluewater Apartments Sunshine Coast
2002     Corporate commission – Blue Water Apartments Sunshine coast; 76 original artworks
2002     Corporate commission-Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast; 52 original artworks @ 300 x 400mm
2001     Corporate commission; 72 original artworks for Sheraton Mirage – Gold Coast
2001     Private collection; canvas size 2000 x 1700mm
2001     Private collection; canvas size 2200 x 1600mm
2001     Private collection; canvas size 2200 x 1750mm
2001     Private collection; canvas size 2000 x 1350mm
2001     Private collection; canvas size 1650 x 1650mm
2001     Private collection; canvas size 1240 x 1740mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 2000 x 800mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 1750 x 1150mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 1900 x 1600mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 1800 x 1800mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 1900 x 1750mm
2000    Private collection; canvas size 2000 x 2000mm
1999     Corporate Collection; Deloitte Touche Tomatsu:
1999     Private collection; canvas size 1500 x 1150mm
1999     Private collection; canvas size 1500 x 1800mm
1999     Private collection; canvas size 1400 x 700mm

CATALOGUES AND OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

2010    Redland City Council Postcards
2003    Queensland Homes Autumn  page 21
2003    Queensland Homes Winter page 39
2002    Queensland Homes Annual Gold Collector’s Edition
2002    Queensland Homes Winter  page 107
2002    Luxury Home Design Vol 4 No 4 page 56
2002    Luxury Home Design Vol 4. No. 2 page 83
2002    Luxury Home Design Vol 3 No. 4 page 67

CRITICAL REVIEWS AND MEDIA COVERAGE

2010    Wynnum Herald, Wed August 4 ‘Inspired by the Land’ Bianca
2006    Bayside Bulletin Tues Mar 21  “Landscape Inspiration” by Jessica Marszalek
2006    Logan News Bulletin May 10  Gallery Express “Artwork of National Standard”  Doug Cartwright
2003    Gold Coast Weekender July 19-20  “Praise the West Wall” Douglas Kennedy
2003    Gold Coast Bulletin July 22  “Hanging in Style”
1993    The Wynnum Herald Wednesday July 14  “Philadelphian images still echo for Anita” Nance Haxton
1990    Townsville Bulletin July 1990 “Palms features talented painter”
1990    Townsville Bulletin July 20 “Works reflect life and moods”
1990    Townsville Bulletin Sep  “The public: a source of inspiration for artist” Robin Rattray-Wood
1990    VERANDA magazine August  “Anita’s impressions go on display”
1989    Advertiser, February 9, “Whimsical images of New Guinea on show” Stephen Hall
1989    Townsville Bulletin Feb 18, 1989 “Kokoda Trail Inspires Anita Glen”
1989    The Advertiser Thursday June 16 1988 “Perc Tucker Gallery Report: Picture Stories” Anna Bock
1988    Townsville Bulletin Sat June 18 1988 “The simple approach works well for artist”
1988    Townsville Bulletin “Perc Tucker Art Gallery Report”
1985    Townsville Bulletin November 1985