Peter Smales was born in London in 1958 and arrived in Australia in 1966. He started painting in his early teens, receiving early encouragement from the watercolourist C. Dudley Wood and the well known portrait painter, Sir William Dargie. He attended the classes of Alan Martin and Ron Crawford, both students of Max Meldrum, who gave him tuition in the “tonal realism” style of painting.
In 1983 Peter completed a Bachelor of Education at Melbourne State College, majoring in Painting. He subsequently taught painting and drawing there for three years. He returned to Europe in 1982 for a tour of the major art galleries.
Peter has held exhibitions annually since 1982, from Leveson Gallery in Carlton, Elgin Gallery, Victorian Artist Society and recently at Jenny Pihan Gallery. Drawing his inspiration from nature, his paintings are principally known for their rich colours, captured moods and impressionistic effects.
Peter holds classes from his home studio and art societies. He conducts workshops and painting demonstration including paint-out days regularly and is a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society and the Victorian Artists Society.
STUDIES
- Art studies with Ron Crawford, Alan Martin and Sir William Dargie
- Bachelor of Education, Painting (Visual Arts) at Melbourne University.
- European study tour, 1982
EXHIBITIONS
- Leveson Gallery, Carlton in 1983 and 1984
- The Elgin Gallery, Carlton from 1985 to 1994
- Guest artist, Camberwell Rotary Art Show in 1992 and 1996
- Victorian Artists’ Society Galleries, 1995 - 2004
- Kew Gallery, 1997, 1999, 2001
- Without Pier Gallery, Sandringham, 2000, 2001, 2002
- Jenny Pihan Fine Art Gallery, annually 2003 – 2019
- Eaglesnest Gallery, Aireys Inlet 2019 and 2020
- Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, annually since 1994
- Malvern Artists’ Society Galleries, 2022
ACTIVITIES
- Member, Victorian Artists' Society.
- Member, Twenty Melbourne Painters Society Inc.
- Camberwell Rotary Art Show Judging Panel, 2002
- Victor Harbour Art Show, Judge, 2010
- Mount Waverley Art Show, Judge, 2010
- Hamilton Rotary Art Show, Judge, 2013
- Bayside Art Show, Brighton Rotary, Judge, 2014
- Currently teaches from home studio and at Doncaster-Templestowe Art Society as well as conducting workshops and plein air paint-aways
REPRESENTED
- Mildura Regional Art Gallery
- Victorian Artists’ Society permanent collection
- Private and corporate collections - Australian and International
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- “90 Years of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society” 2008 TMPS
- “Mavericks and Masters” Centenary of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society 1918 - 2018 TMPS.
AWARDS
- Arthur Streeton & Tom Roberts Awards, Sherbrooke Art Society, 2016
- Sir Arthur Streeton Award, Sherbrooke Art Society, 2010 and 2012
- Victorian Artists Society – Maritime Exhibition Award, 2010
- Mildura Art Show, 2001
- Inaugural Streeton “Longacres” Award, 1999
- Mount Waverley Art Show, 1998
- Box Hill Rotary Art Show, 1996
- Norwich Award (Camberwell Rotary Art Show), 1992, 1994 and 1995
- Kew Rotary Art Show, 1982
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