The Watercolour Society of WA

Contact Details 

Gallery (Click to view paintings) 

Biography

Brenda received her first watercolour paints when she was 5 years old and it wasn’t long before she was painting scenery for the opera productions at her local school, then at the age of 15 one of her art works was exhibited in her home town. This early introduction began a lifetime love of painting.

Brenda has had many accomplishments since then with a Distinction in Art with the London University, a Bachelor Of Arts Degree and a Certificate of Education at Bristol University. She established an Art Club where she encouraged mixed media and experimental painting, exploring the influence of music on imagination and creativity.. As a young mother in Merredin in the wheatbelt region of W.A., she learned spinning and weaving and worked as a design consultant for Eastern Dist. Construction Co. Once again she painted scenery, this time for the Model Railway Society.

Later, after moving to the south west of Western Australia, she discovered china painting and completed her Advanced Certificate of Art & Design, it was here that she read the writings of Maxine Masterfield, a pioneer of “Abstract Naturalism” A trip to America with an invitation to study with Maxine has resulted in Brenda being awarded a signature membership of the International Society of Experimental Artists, a very commendable achievement.

Brenda has also been accepted as an exhibiting member of the Australian Society of Miniature Art, and her work has been published in their publication, “Miniature Art In Australia, Past and Present”. She has also had an article published in the May 1999 Australian Artist Magazine. This multi-talented artist has won many awards for both large and small works., she feels that her membership with the Watercolour Society Of W.A. has given her a feeling that she has finally come home after a long a varied journey through art.

Student Exhibitions

• 1955 Watercolour Exhibition. Weymouth, England.
• 1987 Inaugural T.A.F.E., Margaret River. W.A.
• Annual T.A.F.E. Busselton.
• 1988 South West Survey. Bunbury Regional Galleries.
• 1989 South West Survey. Bunbury Regional Galleries.
• 1989 Sure Lines. South West College. Bunbury.
• 1991 Aspirations. Bunbury Regional Art Galleries.

Group Exhibitions

• 1994 Walk Against Want. Awareness. Cyrillean Gallery.Dunsborough
• Miniatures. Cyrillean Gallery. Dunsborough.

• 1997 Onglaze. Back to the Future. Coolroom Gallery Bunbury.
• 1997 South West Survey Promotion. Bunbury.
• 1997 Wetlands. Cyrillean Gallery. Dunsborough.
• 1997 Deep Blue. Cyrillean Gallery Dunsborough.
• 1998 Spring Tide. Cyrillean Gallery. Dunsborough.
• 1999 New Beginnings (Easter) Cyrillean Gallery Dunsborough.
• 1999 Hang Up The Work. Cyrillean Gallery. Dunsborough.

Solo Exhibitions

• 1990 Landscapes on Porcelain and Paper. Willyabrup Festival

• 1994 Behind the Scenes. Old Courthouse. Busselton.
• 1995 Patination & Erosion. Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.
• 1996 Fragments. Bunbury Entertainment Centre.
• 1999 Army Art Show. Guest Artist. Swanbourne.
• 2000 Evocations. Old Courthouse. Busselton.

Invitation Exhibitions

• 1998 Margaret River Spring Festival

• 1992-1998. Art Extraordinaire. Bunbury Catholic College.
• 1994-1995/97 South West Survey.
• 1994 Arts Council Of W.A. Touring Exhibition 9x5’s
• 1994 Best from the South West 1994. Stables Gallery. Perth.
• 1997 Margaret River Region Festival. Wise Winery.

Charity Exhibitions

• 1996-1999 Army Art Show. Campbell Barracks. Swanbourne.
• 2000-2001 S.A.S.R. Auxiliary Art Show. Campbell Barracks.
• 1999-2001 Three Boys Legacy. Ocean Beach Hotel. Cottesloe.
• 2000 Busselton Hospice. Charity Auction Sale.

Awards

• 1989 Awards for Excellence. TES External Studies.
• 1993 2nd Prize R.A.S. P&O Agricultural Art Award.
• 1994 1sr Prize R.A.S. P&O Agricultural Art Award.
• 1994-2000 Capel Festival Art Classic. Highly Commended.
• 1994-95,97,98,2000 Brunswick Art Purchase. Sponsers Prize.
• 1996-1997 Capel Fest. Art Classic. Sponsers Prize.
• 1998 1st Prize. The 5th Australian Miniature Art Award.
• 2001 Boyup Brook Autumn Art Affair. Shire Prize, and Highly Commended
• 2002 Harvey Art. Highly Commended.

Display Of Work

• Past Yallingup Galleries. Cyrillean Gallery Dunsborough. Coolroom Gallery, Harbour Ciry Arts & Arts & Crafts. Bunbury.
• Present Tjintu Tjarpa Studio Gallery, Stratham. dministration Office. Bunbury Regional Art Galleries. Bird Cameron Office. Busselton.

Collections

• Mrs. W. Watts. Gallery Guide. Art Gallery Of W.A.

• Yoshito Imamura. Consul General Of Japan.
• Millenium Inorganic Chemicals.
• Worsley Alumina
• Hosking Leadlights
• Del Ambrosius (radio personality)
• Mrs. B. Hogan. Head, Art Dept. S.W. College. Bunbury.
• Private Collections in Western Australia. England. Ireland.Germany. Sweden and America.

Publications

• Behind the Scenes. Poetry Booklet
• Footprints in the Sand. Vol 4.. Poetry as Such.
• Australian Artist Magazine. illustrated article.
• Work in. Miniature Art In Australia. Past & Present.
• Commission Projects
• 1998 Dress Plates & Brochures for 1885 Inn & Restaurant.
• 1997 Postcard for Mail Art Project.Ecole des Beaux Arts. France

Membership

Past

• Cyrillean Group of Dunsborough.
• Moondyne Group. Margaret River.
• W.A. Guild of China Painters.
• Bunbury Arts Council.
• Capel Art Group.

Present

• Australian Society Of Miniature Art. N.S.W., QLE, Tas.
• Bunbury Regional Artists Guild. ( BRAG)
• International Society Of Experimental Artists.
• Watercolour Society Of W.A.