Darren Meader

Darren was born in Essex England 1968 but was raised in Victoria after emigrating with family in 1974. He developed a passion for drawing from an early age, always sketching the rural landscape between Pearcedale and Dandenong, Victoria as a boy.  He began oil painting at the age of twenty in 1988 under renowned landscape artist Glen Hoyle. He continued with this painting with an emphasis on realist Australian landscapes until 1993. Study at university and subsequent work in remote locations in Western Australia kept him from painting, however, he studied the Australian landscape avidly with a strong passion for photography. A new beginning in art came in 2001 when Darren commenced studies in watercolour under Andrew Gemmill at the McClelland Guild of Artists Studio. He developed an immediate connection with this new medium and enhanced his skills further by studying under master watercolourists Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet, Greg Allen and Ross Paterson.

In 2009 Darren moved to Launceston and returned to oil painting in 2011 with a new, watercolour inspired, impressionist approach and began a professional art career in 2012. He works from a studio in The Tin Shed Pottery studios in Inveresk, Launceston. While living in Tasmania Darren retains a strong connection to the Victorian landscape that forms the roots of his artwork. He has had three solo exhibitions in oil and acrylic painting and enjoys painting traditional, impressionist landscapes, maritime and urban streetscapes with a strong emphasis on capturing mood, atmosphere and light.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS                                
2013 | Impression of Tasmania, Gallery Artspaces, Triabunna, Tasmania
2012 | A View of the World, Don Roderick Gallery, Charters Towers, Queensland.
2011 | A Personal View - an exhibition of Impressionism, Blue Cafe Bar, Launceston

GROUP EXHIBITIONS       
2014 | Northern Artists’ Collective, Thistle Gallery, Ross, Tasmania
2013 | "Decade" 10 year anniversary exhibition of the Tin Shed Pottery Artist Studios, Inveresk, Tasmania
2013 | 2 in 1 an Exhibition of Realist Art, (an exhibition with Phillip Austin), Country Club Tasmania, Prospect, Tasmania
2013 | Fishing and Shepherding on the Central Highlands (an exhibition with Paul Richards), Gallery Blue Cafe Bar, Launceston, Tasmania.
2006 | Unnamed (an exhibition with Norm Carrington, World Theatre Gallery, Charters Towers, Queensland.
2005 | Unnamed (an exhibition with Alan Kelly, World Theatre Gallery, Charters Towers, Queensland.

AWARDS
2014 | Highly Commended - Knox Art Show, Knox City
2013 | Winner - Landscape Prize - Meandering Art Show, Launceston
2013 | Highly Commended - Berwick Edrington Art Exhibition          
2013 | Winner - Landscape Prize - Art of Norfolk Plains, Tasmania
2012 | Winner - Agricultural Prize - Meandering Art Show, Launceston
2012 | Commended - Ross Painting the Town Art Competition
2012 | Highly Commended - Camberwell Rotary Art Show.
2012 | Highly Commended - Launceston Art Society Annual Acquisitive Award.
2011 | Highly Commended - Launceston Art Society Annual Acquisitive Award.
2009 | 2nd Prize - Local Scene Section - 2009 Townsville Show.
2008 | 2nd Prize - Open Section - 2008 Townsville Show.
2005 | 1st Prize in Watercolour and Show Champion - 2005 Charters Towers Annual Show.
2005 | People's Choice Award - 2005 Shire of Mundaring Invitation Art Acquisition Exhibition.
2003 | 1st Prize - Darlington Arts Festival - Darlington Review Award - Best First Time Exhibitor.

For more information please visit: www.darrenmeader.com.au