Lake Country Wanarra Station W.A., Oil on Belgian linen, 270 cm x 110 cm
Born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1951. From an early age she was encouraged by her mother Clarice Lawrence to draw, paint and create. Clarice’s artworks, demonstrations and constructive criticism will always be an inspiration. See Clarice’s artwork here
During her 4 years of study at the South Australian School of Art and Western Teachers College, Geoff Wilson, lecturer in Painting and Design and South Australian landscape painter, became a great inspiration to Christine in his use of colour, composition and ways of analysing and representing the visual world. She obtained an Advanced Diploma in Secondary Teaching, Fine Art
During 11 years of Visual Arts teaching in secondary schools Christine always made time for her artwork. The River Torrens and botanical gardens of Adelaide provided an array of subject matter and she enjoyed occasional days painting the landscape of the Fleurieu Peninsular with Geoff Wilson and Dave Dallwitz.
In 1984 Christine began painting fulltime. Over the next 12 years she took part in numerous painting trips organized by artist David Dridan. The opportunity to work in the landscape with other artists including David, Geoff Wilson, Silvio Apponyi, Brian Seidel, Brian Dunlop, Penny Dowie, Rod Schubert and Jim Ingolby, was invaluable. Locations included the outback stations of Wirrealpa, Martins Well and Gum Creek in the Flinders Ranges, Siam in the Gawler Ranges and the historical property, Murndal in Southern Victoria. Accomodation was usually found in shearer’s quarters where great meals and shared experiences following a days painting, made for many memorable and inspiring times.
A large amount of subject matter was collected through en plein air painting, sketching and photography. Back in the studio major works were composed.
During these years the Strout Farm group was formed. David Dridan, Geoff Wilson, Dave Dallwitz, Hugo Shaw , Lesley Redgate and Christine met at Strout farm near Willunga on a weekly basis for days of en plein air painting, shared lunches and lots of fun.
In 1996 Dave composed a poem celebrating these days for the opening of an exhibition of Christine’s work. Read the poem here
In 1997 Christine returned to teaching Visual Arts at Gilles Street Primary School where she taught 17 reception to year 7 classes a week, both mainstream and Intensive English Language Program students involving 40 different cultural groups. She organized several murals at the school, the largest 38 metres x 5.6 metres depicted different regions of the Australian landscape and included between 60 and 70 birds, animals and reptiles. School holidays were used to complete many commissioned works for both corporate and private collections.
Christine retired from teaching and moved to Wanarra station in Western Australia in 2016, where she is able once again to focus on her artwork. She visits her home in Adelaide on a regular basis.
ARTISTS STATEMENT
“I have always been a realist, drawn to the magical illusions that can be created on the surface of the picture plain. Any subject can be a vehicle to study light, colour, form, space… Reality.
Every day brings a myriad of visual gifts. Light playing on subjects, reflected or translucent, revealing the amazing forms and details of our world. Right on your doorstep.
Aiming to capture the essence of that which has inspired me in the complexity and beauty of the natural world:
– from the colour, texture and forms in the leaf litter to the vast spaces of the landscape.
– from the patterns, shapes and colours of reflections to the constantly changing beauty of the sky.
– from the majestic structure and form of a tree to a simple still life.
Striving to find new ways to improve my skills of observation, analysis, representation and the composition of my subjects.
Providing a window for contemplation”.
CURRICULUM VITAE
1951 Born in Adelaide, South Australia
STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1969-72 Advanced Diploma in Secondary Teaching- Fine Art, Torrens college of Advanced Education
1969-72 and The South Australian School of Art
1973-84 Taught Visual Arts in South Australian secondary schools
1974 Taught painting at the Department of Further Education
1984 Began working full time as a painter
1991 Commissioned to create two landscape paintings for the Australis Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
1993 Commissioned to create a painting for the State Bank of South Australia Tourism Awards Poster
1993 Paintings chosen and commissioned for wine labels for Odd Bins winery Sydney
1993 Taught Summer Landscape Painting class, Adelaide Central School of Art
1993-94 Judging-Thomas Laird Memorial Travelling Art study Award
1994 Judging Lobethal Art Show
1995 Judging Glenelg Apex Art Show
1989-15 Numerous painting trips to the Flinders Ranges, Gawler Ranges and Victoria with groups of
1989-15 artists including David Dridan, Geoff Wilson, Silvio Apponyi and Brian Seidel
1997-15 Visual Arts Teacher, Gilles Street Primary School
1997-15 Created large Landscape mural, 38m x 5-6m and a variety of smaller murals with students
1997-15 Commissioned to create two murals at Sturt Street Primary School
2016 Moved to Wanarra Station, Western Australia and began painting full-time
NOTABLE PLACEMENTS OF PAINTINGS
Australian embassies in The Hague, Beijing, Dar-es-Salam and Ankara
Australian Mission to the United Nations, Geneva
Australian consulate, Honolulu
Prime Minister’s Office-Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M)
Department of trade, Melbourne
Australian Wheat Board, Melbourne
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Michell Endowment, Victorian National Gallery
Artbank, Sydney
State Bank of South Australia
AMP Society, Adelaide
Western farmers, Perth
SGIC, Adelaide
Mayne Nickless, Melbourne and London
Dridan Fine Arts, South Australia
Ayers Finess, Adelaide and Sydney
IEL, Sydney
Clarke and Kann Solicitors, Brisbane
Grange trust, Adelaide
Hardy Wine Company, Padthaway, South Australia
Beneficial finance corporation, South Australia
Australis Centre, South Australia
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
In Australia, England, Holland, Sweden and the United States of America
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 ‘South Australian Living Artists Festival’, Hugo Winery, McLaren Flat, South Australia
1996 Dridan Fine Art, McLaren Vale, South Australia
1994 The Barn, Adelaide Festival of Arts, McLaren Vale, South Australia
1988 ‘Adelaide festival of Arts’, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, South Australia
1988 Greenhill Galleries, Perth, Western Australia
1981 Contemporary Art Society of South Australia
1977 Avenel bee Gallery, Stirling, South Australia
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 North Midlands Art Exhibition, Carnamah, W. A. Winner of the Agricultural Art Award
2019 ‘Escapes’, Art Images Gallery, Norwood, S.A.
2018 Finalist in the Collie Art Prize
2017 North Midlands Art Exhibition, Carnamah Western Australia
Winner of the Art Excellence Award and Agricultural Art Award
2017 ‘The Big Landscape’, Art Images Gallery, Norwood, S.A.
2017 Featured Artist at Dalwallinu Arts Festival, Western Australia
1998 ‘The Horse in Art’– Dridan Fine Arts, McLaren Vale
1996 Hill-Smith Fine Art Gallery, Adelaide. Barry Newton Gallery, Unley, South Australia
1994 Scotch College Fine Art exhibition, South Australia
1994 Woodstock Easter Art exhibition
1994 Dridan Fine Arts- Incorporating Fleurieu Showcase, McLaren Vale, S.A.
1994 Stafford Studios Perth, Western Australia
1994 ‘The Strout Road Experience’ Dridan Fine Arts, McLaren Vale, S.A.
1994 ‘The 10” x 8” Christmas Exhibition’ Dridan fine Arts, McLaren Vale, S.A
1993 Christmas Exhibition, The Barn, McLaren Vale, S.A.
1992 Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1992 Stafford Studios, Perth, W.A.
1992 Scotch College fine Art exhibition, Adelaide S.A.
1992 Easter Art Exhibition, Woodstock Winery, McLaren Flat, S.A.
1992 ‘Vines and Vales’ Wirra Wirra Winery, McLaren Vale, S.A.
1991 Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1991 Barry Newton Christmas Exhibition, Adelaide, S.A.
1991 Stafford Studios, Perth, W.A.
1990 ‘The 80’s…Our Decade in Review’, Greenhill Galleries Adelaide, S.A.
1990 Easter Art Exhibition, Woodstock Winery, McLaren flat, S.A.
1990 ‘For Rooms Without a View’, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1989 Christmas exhibition, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1989 ‘Personal Visions’, Royal South Australian Society for the Arts, Adelaide
1989 ‘Shanghai Chinese Art Institute Exhibition’, The Jam Factory, Adelaide, S.A.
1989 ‘Agean Series No. 2′, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1988 ‘StillLife in the 80’s’, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, S.A.
1987 ‘The Vision Splendid’, R.S.A.S.A., Adelaide, S.A.
1987 Corporate Art Exhibition, R.S.A.S.A., Adelaide, S.A.
1982 ‘10 south Australian painters’, R.S.A.S.A., Adelaide, S.A.
1982 Powell Street Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
1981 ‘Various Images’, Royal Melbourne institute of Technology, Victoria
1980 ‘The Real Thing’, Contemporary Art Society of South Australia
1979 Contemporary art Society of South Australia
ARTICLES FEATURING CHRISTINE AND HER WORK
From Shadow Into Light : South Australian Women Artists Since Colonisation
Redgum Magazine, South Australia’s Journal of Discovery
McLaren Vale, ‘Sea and Vines’, Barbara Santich, (No link available)
