Born in Scotland in 1952. Douglas graduated from Hornsey Art School, later called Middlesex Polytechnic, London, in 1976 with a BA Hons in Fine Art.
He had the good fortune to receive a year’s French Scholarship to Les Beaux Arts in Aix en Provence in the same year, where he explored the new and refreshing Mediterranean light and landscape.
After returning to England to complete a year’s postgraduate teaching degree from Leeds University in 1977, the first taste of the Mediterranean drew him back to develop his painting and drawing. This time he travelled to Italy in a combi van with 100 pounds in his pocket, and armed with paints, brushes and easel, he discovered another world of stimulating and inspirational images. This valuable time also allowed him to learn the language better and meet other artists.
On the streets of Bologna, Florence and Venice, and around Tuscany, Douglas attempted his first tentative drawings and watercolours, learning much to do with light, drawing, colour and the new experience of painting from life, old cities and the landscape.
It was an invaluable experience and it helped form a solid foundation for his painting career, and the confidence to live from painting.
Travel and the sense of adventure led him to Australia in 1982, where he continued to paint to fund his travels and discover a new country. It was a different challenge to interpret the vastness of the landscape, its light and colours all of which contrast with those of Europe.
This is where he wanted to “hang his hat”.
After starting married life in Fremantle in 1984 where his two daughters were born, he moved to the Yallingup area in 1991 and established a home and studio where he continues to work full time at his painting and the challenges of interpreting this country’s contrasting landscape.
Since 1985 Douglas has travelled many times to the north to paint including the Pilbara, Kimberley, Murchison as well as the Northern Territory. The North will always have a fascination and be an endless source of inspiration. The timeless, vast and spiritual nature of its land has a power which has not been felt anywhere else.
The immediate surroundings of his home, the bush and the rugged beauty of the coast, are also the inspiration for his art.
Born Scotland 1952
1972-76 B.A. (Hons) Fine Art- City & Guilds & Hornsey Art School, London
1976-77 1Year French Scholarship, Ecole de Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence.
1977-78 1Year Post-graduate Art Teacher's Certificate, Leeds University
1978-82 Traveled and painted in Italy, France and Austria, specialising in watercolours, landscapes and portraits.
1982-84 Arrived in Australia, March 1982. Traveled and painted widely until September 1984.
October 1984 Gained permanent residency in Australia and started painting full-time. Paints Pilbara, Kimberley, Northern Territory,
Settled in South West of Western Australia.
Subsequent painting trips made to Nepal and Europe taking in Tuscany France and Portugal
1999 2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca, Tuscany
2000 2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca, Tuscany
2001 3 week Painting and Teaching trip to Greece
2002 2 week Painting and Teaching trip to Lucca Tuscany
2010 Artist in Residence on “True North”, North Star Cruises
2000-2014 Artist in Residence at Cable Beach Club Resort, Broome
AWARDS include
2006 & 2107 Cossack Art Award – Pilbara Landscape Category
2006 Joint Winner Vasse Art Prize
2000 People's Choice, Cossack Art Prize
2000 Finalist for Mandorla Art Prize
1995 Finalist for Mandorla Art Prize
REPRESENTATIONS
Private collections in Europe, USA, Israel, Australia, UK
Corporate Collections in Japan, USA, Australia, China Rumanian Government
BHP
Dominion Gold Mines The Weld Club
Westpac Wesfarmers
Kerry Stokes Reserve Bank
E.U. Delegation Office, Canberra Millbrook Winery, Jarrahdale, WA
Hamersley Iron Monastery Gallery Collection,
Alinta Gas New Norcia, WA
Evans & Tate Wines Pilbara Iron
Kalgoorlie College Art Dept. Collection North Star Cruises
Hale School Collection, Perth WA Venus Metals
Cape Bouvard Iona Catholic School, Mosman Park
Illustrations for 3 poems for “Songs of The Possum” by Bill Mather Brown
SOLO EXHIBITIONS include
2009 Monsoon Gallery, Broome
2006 Delshan Gallery Armadale Vic
2004 Stafford Studios, Perth WA
2003 Monsoon Gallery – Broome WA
2002 Evans and Tate Visitor’s Center Opening
1999 Beaver Galleries - ACT
1995 Holdsworth Gallery- Sydney
1991 Arts Darwin Gallery, Darwin
1987 "Pilbara Light" Exhibition, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
GROUP EXHIBITIONS include
2007 Stafford Studios, Cottesloe
2006 Gecko Gallery, Broome WA
2001 Stafford Studios, Cottesloe WA
1996 Pierrepiont Gallery, Newark, England
1996 Abney Gallery New York, N.Y.
1989 Blaxland Gallery,Sydney