Sheila Benford was born in England in 1935. She painted, self- taught from an early age, later trained as an airbrush artist subsequently employed in London photographic studios for seven years. Sheila immigrated to Australia with her husband and two children in 1977 where she established her own business as a photo restorer.
Between 1980 and 1987 Sheila studied Fine Arts, passing with Distinction. She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions, including major galleries around Australia and is represented in the Ministry of Health Collection.
Sheila enjoys camping trips to remote northern parts of Western Australia with various art groups, finding the harsh landscape and unique forms and colours of Australia a never- ending inspiration and challenge.
Education
1987 Graduated with Distinction Fine Arts, Forrestfield College of Technical & Further Education
In London I trained as a photographic airbrush artist. Worked for various photographers in Perth doing photo restoration
Awards
2001 & 1999 – Highly Commended, Cossack Art Award
1998 & 2005 – Winner of Cossack Art Award 1995 – Winner of Fremantle Woolstores Art Prize
Solo Exhibitions
2005 - 2008 – 2009 Artist for the Month, Gallery 360 2001 - Pilbara Fine Art Gallery
1996 – Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth
1992 – West End Gallery, Fremantle
Collections
Parliament House, Landscape Collections
Burswood Casino, Perth
Shire of Roeburn
Ministry of Health, Perth
Duxton Hotel, Perth (commission)
Private collections in Australia, Britain, Holland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany