Biography

1959
Born Glasgow, Scotland.

1977 – 81
Studied at the Glasgow School of Art.

1981
Paintings commissioned for ‘Altered Images’ record sleeve, purchased by Henry Geldzhaler for his private collection.

1981 – 83
Studied at The Royal College of Art, London.

1982 – 83
Commissioned to complete a series of paintings and drawings for Spandau Ballet albums ‘True’ and ‘Parade’.

1983
Set up ‘The Cloth’ Studios with Fraser Taylor, Brian Bolger and Helen Manning.
Designed t-shirts for Paul Smith. The Cloth (1983-1988) designed textile collections for fashion designers in London, Paris and New York. Clients included: Betty Jackson, Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein and Nicole Miller. The Cloth produced their own ready to wear collection, sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Fred Segal, Isetan, Seibu, Browns, Harrods and Liberty of London.

1984
Designed fabrics for Nicole Miller, Saks and Liberty.
Drawings commissioned for ‘Vanity Fair’ and ‘Interview’.
‘The Cloth’ featured in ‘Interview’ magazine.

1985
First solo exhibition, at Brentford Watermans Art Centre, London.
Represented by Thumb Gallery, London.
Shown at the private collection of Henry Geldzhaler at ‘The Century Club’ New York.

1986
Exhibition and window installation for Liberty, London.
Moved to Melbourne, Australia.

1987
First Melbourne exhibition at the Reconnaissance Gallery.

1988
Returned to London. Showed with Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London.

1989
Returned to Melbourne. Commenced part-time lecturing post at RMIT University.

1991
First exhibition with Australian Galleries, Melbourne.

1994
First monoprints ‘Jazz’ (How many notes in a saxophone?) created at The Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne.
Commissioned by Mushroom Records to create 10 paintings for Paul Kelly CD ‘Wanted Man’.

1995
First exhibition with Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney.
First suites of etchings ‘Jazz’ and ‘Bird’, created at The Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne.

1996
Finished lecturing post at RMIT.
Suite of eight silkscreens commissioned by Simon Goh, printed by Larry Rawling.
Suite of eight paintings commissioned by Maurice Terzini for The Melbourne Wine Room.

1997
Moved studio to Gasworks Arts Park.
Commissioned by the van Haandels to create a canvas wall hanging, for Il Forniao Melbourne.
Mural 4 x 30 metres commissioned for Melbourne’s ‘Crown’ Casino.

1998
‘Beautiful Fields’ the Art of David Band, Imprint Magazine.
Suites of etchings ‘Tenplates’ and ‘Songs’ with printer Bill Young. Begins work on the ‘Aspar’ series.

1999
Received awards for suite of etchings in ‘Tenplates’.
Commissioned by the van Haandels to create a series of 40 artworks (paintings, photographs and etchings), for The Prince of Wales Hotel.
‘No Room For Squares’ series of unique etchings with John Loane.
‘Spillage’ series of 6 etchings with John Loane.
Monograph ‘Bandstand’ appears in Australian Vogue.

2000
Commissioned by ANZ Private Bank Australia to create a suite of 6 etchings, printed by John Loane.

2002
‘Splash’ and ‘Splashdown’ paintings and unique etchings commissioned by Australand for Freshwater Apartments, Melbourne.
First solo exhibition in New York at McGrath Gallery.

2003
Created first ‘Spirograph’ paintings with silkscreen printer Larry Rawling.
‘Sweet Little Mysteries’ a series of five etchings with Bill Young, based on the music of John Martyn.
Commissioned by the Botanical Hotel to create eight paintings.

2004
Commissioned by the Prince Wine Store to create seven glass panels for the entrance.
Redesigned the Good Food Guide’s Chef’s Hat logo for their 25th anniversary.
Three ‘Spirograph’ works from the ‘Waiting for Butterflies’ series, acquired by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

2005
Donated twenty unique etchings to ‘Seeds’ Tsunami appeal.
‘Abstract Addiction’ article by Chris Beck in Melbourne’s The Age newspaper.
Started work on the ‘Wool’ drawings.
Commissioned by Pearl Restaurant to create three ‘Wool’ drawings for interior.
Created a series of monoprints ‘Flowers’ with Fraser Taylor in memory of their friend Robert McCann.

2006
Commissioned by Zaishu to create a series of stool covers, exhibited at Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane.
Left Gasworks studio, to set up main studio in Melton, Victoria.
Returned to painting on canvas.

2007
Exhibited ‘Seven Roses’ at Hill Smith Gallery in memory of the Scottish artist Steven Campbell.
The series ‘Flowers’ is sold in Glasgow for the Robert McCann Foundation.

2008
Commissioned by the Crown Hotel to create 140 monoprints / silkscreens.
Completed a new series of silkscreens ‘Imbibe with Me’ with Larry Rawling.

2009
Commissioned in collaboration with Fraser Taylor by Bates Smart Architects to complete 700 hand-coloured etchings for the Crown Metropole Hotel.
Created the embossed Jelly Bean for the JDRF Art Auction. The ‘Bean’ was embellished by many of Melbourne’s leading artists to raise money for children with diabetes.
Left Australian Galleries Melbourne after 18 years of representation.

2011
Loses battle with cancer, 20 April

COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Victoria
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA
Henry Geldzhaler Collection, New York, USA
Australian Catholic University Art Collection
ANZ Private Bank
Artbank

REPRESENTED BY
Olsen Gallery (Sydney)
Jan Murphy Gallery (Brisbane)