ABOUT THE ARTISTS

exhibiting in MADE IN NEWCASTLE

MICHELLE BRODIE Biography

Born in Sydney, Michelle studied Fine art in Gymea and Canberra and completed a Degree in Philosophy through the University of New South Wales. She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout her career. She was represented by John Miller Gallery Newcastle until its closure in 2008. Based in Newcastle Michelle was twice the recipient of the Pat Corrigan artists grant and has exhibited at the John Paynter Gallery and Pod Space, Newcastle.

DEBRA BYRNES

Biography

Born in Newcastle Debra Byrnes  is an artist whose practice includes a range of two and three dimensional work and the boundaries in between. She has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and completed the Advanced Diploma in Fine Art at Newcastle Art School where she was awarded prizes in both painting and sculpture. A mural size print of her work was hung in Newcastle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mattara festival in 2011, and her work has recently been shown at lake Macquarie City Art Gallery as part of the exhibition Surface Seeking.

NICOLA HENSEL

Biography

Born in Newcastle artist Nicola Hensel bases her practice on following seasonal changes. She draws in plein air, directly from life in her garden and local surrounds. She is represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Queensland, has had eight solo exhibitions and has work in private and public collections including four regional galleries and Parliament House Australia.

CLAIRE MARTIN

Biography

Claire Martin born in Melbourne, studied at the National Art School, Newcastle, subsequently living and exhibiting in Sydney, Goulburn, then returning to live and work in Newcastle post earthquake. She has pursued her art practice for over two decades, held twelve solo shows and participated in numerous group exhibitions. During her career Claire has been selected as the 2010 winner of the Cowra Painting Prize, received the Commendation Prize in the Mosman Art Prize 2005, and winner of the Works on Paper Muswellbrook Prize 2002. This year she is a finalist in the Sydney Cricket Art Prize for the second time. In 2008 she was selected for the Dobell Drawing Prize at AGNSW and commended in the 2010 Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize. She is represented in Regional Galleries and various private and corporate collections in Australia.

JESSE NEALE

Biography

Jesse Neale is a young artist born in Sydney and based in Newcastle. He has participated in many group exhibitions in various artist run spaces in Newcastle, as well as group exhibitions at both the Newcastle and Maitland regional galleries.

GORDON SNOW

Biography

Born Sydney, Gordon Snow completed a BA Honours and Masters degree in Fine Arts from the College of Fine Art Sydney in painting and sculpture after first completing a Degree in Medicine at Sydney University. His work has been shown in PICA, Perth WA, and Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney in 2004. He currently works in Emergency medicine whilst maintaining his artistic practice. In 2004 he participated in an artist’s residency at the Cite Paris.

MAZIE TURNER

Biography

Mazie Turner has a PhD (Fine Art) from The University of Newcastle.  Having begun her study in art in South Australia  she held her first solo exhibition at Bondi Pavilion Gallery in 1982.  She has since been in numerous solo and group exhibitions.  She is represented by paintings and photographs in collections such as Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia, ArtBank, and Private Collections amongst others.