Laura Matthews was born in South Wales in 1964.
She studied at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, London University as an undergraduate and post-graduate student. During this 6-year period her work matured under the tutelage of the greatest modern British painters, amongst them Sir Lawrence Gowing and Euan Uglow. Matthews subsequently received numerous accolades, awards and travelling scholarships under this exceptional guidance. A twice recipient of the International Elizabeth Greenshield Bursary, Laura left her homeland in 2002 to immigrate with her family to Australia.
Upon arriving here Laura has continued to receive high acclaim. She has been selected three times as a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture held at the SH Ervin Gallery; She has also been a finalist in the prestigious Fleurieu Peninsula Award for landscape in 2004 and in the same year a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize. In 2009 year she was selected to exhibit in the Glover award for Landscape and was highly commended by the judging panel, which included the critic John Macdonald of the SMH.
Laura’s work is represented in private collections in Europe, the U.S.A and Australia. She is included in the extensive collections of Royal Caribbean Cruise Liners, many of which were specially commissioned. Her work is also found in the Slade Collection and on the cover of The Oxford Book Of Twentieth Century English Verse chosen by Philip Larkin (Oxford University Press).
EDUCATION
1987-1989: HDFA, Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London
1983-1987: BA (Hons) Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London
SELECTED AWARDS & SELECTIONS
2019 Winner Peoples Choice Paddington Art Prize
2019 Winner “Naked & Nude” Manning Regional Gallery NSW
2019 Finalist Tattersall’s Art Prize
2017 Finalist Paddington Art Prize
2017 Winner Hunters Hill Regional Art Prize
2017 Winner of people’s choice, and Finalist Tattersall’s Art Prize
2017 Finalist Tattersall’s Art Prize
2017 Finalist Ravenswood Art Prize
2017 Finalist Manning Art Prize
2012 – 16 Finalist Tattersall’s Art Prize
2012 Finalist Portia Geach Portrait Prize
2011 Finalist Manning Regional Art Prize
2010 Finalist Paddington At Prize
2010 Finalist Norvil Art Prize
2010 Finalist John Glover Prize for Tasmanian landscape
2009 Finalist John Glover Prize for Tasmanian landscape (Highly Commended)
2008 Finalist KSAP
2008 Finalist Norvil art prize, salon
2008 Finalist Kings School Art Prize
2008 Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award for portraiture
2006 Finalist Art on the Rocks, Sydney
2004 Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award for portraiture
2004 Finalist Fleurieu Biennale for Landscape Painting
2004 Finalist Paddington Fine Art Prize, Sydney
2003 Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award for portraiture
1992 – 1987 The Elizabeth Greenshields Award, David Bailey Travelling Scholarship, France, The
Slade Award Portrait Gallery, London, Catherine Maude Pearce Award
SOLO EXHIBTIONS
2019 ‘Sea Creatures’ The Studio Gallery
2019 ‘Shifting Perspectives’ The Studio Gallery
2018 ‘Rivers, Roads and Relics’ Nanda Hobbs
2018 ‘Inside Out’, The Studio Gallery
2017 ‘Secret Garden’ The Studio Gallery
2016 ‘Hiraeth’ Nanda/Hobbs Contemporary, Sydney
2016 Summer Exhibition The Studio Gallery
2015 ‘Pilbara Lights’, The Studio Gallery
2014 ‘Threshold’ Art Equity, Sydney
2013 Summer Exhibition The Studio Gallery
2011 “In a new light” The Studio Gallery Yallingup
2010 “What Lies Beneath” Metro Gallery Melbourne
2009 “Roar” Charles Hewitt Gallery Sydney
2009 “Diemens” Metro Gallery Melbourne
2008 “Devils Heart” Artequity Sydney
2007 Ross Hill Winery
2007 “Vistas” Artequity Sydney
2006 “Breathe” Artequity Sydney
2005 “Sky Sweep Cityscape” Artequity Sydney
2004 “Caught In the Eye” Artequity Sydney
1996 “One Woman Show” Slade Gallery London
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 “Viewpoint” The Studio Gallery Yallingup
2009 Glover Prize Exhibition Evandale Tasmania
2008 Five Painters Danks St Gallery Sydney
2007 “Australia Day” Sydney Morning Herald “Barbeque”
2007 Sydney Art Fair corporate art
2006 Little Bay Landcorp
2005 Affordable Art Fair Sydney
2001 Sheen Gallery London
2000 Five Painters New Grafton Gallery London
2000 – 1987 Royal Caribbean International Cruiseliners, Highgate Fine Art London, New Grafton Gallery London
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
2009 Featured Artist “The Apprentice” Channel 9
2009 Featured Artist Cyclomedica calendar 2010
2008 Featured “Catalyst” ABC television
2007 Australia Day publication Sydney Morning Herald
2006 Landcorp Little Bay promotional material
2006 Sydney Morning Herald
2005 Sydney Morning Herald
1997 cover for The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse (Philip Larkin Ed OUP 1997)
TEACHING
2000-2 Lecturer in Drawing Wimbledon School of Art
1999 Slade Affiliate programme tutor, life painting, drawing
1998-99 Drawing Lecturer Wimbledon School of Art
1997-98 Visiting Lecturer
1997-98 Course Tutor Life Drawing Slade BA/MA students, Slade affiliate programme
1990-97 Lecturer foundation course Richmond, Surrey
1990 Whitechapel Art Gallery workshops
1990 Barbican Gallery Workshops