Body Art Click to enlarge

Body Art Click to enlarge

Body Art Click to enlarge

Body Art Click to enlarge

Tim Gratton
Body Painter (Sydney, NSW)

Art - whatever the form - is what drives Tim Gratton. He works in a variety of mediums, however is most reknown for his cutting-edge work in body painting and developing the artform throughout Europe and Australia over the past 17 years.

Originally working with oils and other traditional mediums, Tim began to body paint to attract crowds to his exhibitions. The popularity of his body painting took over, leading him to become a world-reknown artist in the style of body painting. He travelled the world and eventually developed his own brand of non-toxic body paint through Matisse Derivan called "Tim Gratton's Face & Body Paint ".

During his travels, Tim was awarded the World Championship in Body Painting twice; the first time in 1993 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and the second time in 1997 in London, United Kingdom.

His contact with other artists has been fleeting, mainly because he travels so much, except when Harold ‘Kangaroo’ Thornton walked into his life whilst living in Amsterdam. Harold encouraged Tim to use bold pure colour and further encouraged his interest in other aspects of painting.

Tim says that body painting is amazing because of its impermanence. It takes hours to create a human canvas, then within minutes it can all be washed away - where as a painting on canvas can live for a long time.

Painting on the body also creates immense pressure. Says Tim "Its not like a canvas or a piece of paper, there's no opportunity to leave it for an hour or a day or a week. The whole activity must take place in one session, usually over a period of a few hours so that the model does not pass out with exhaustion! The result is then photographed and disappears forever."

While he is best known for his body painting throughout the world, Tim's paintings on canvas are also given equal attention. He has worked and exhibited in UK, America, Hungary, Holland, New Zealand as well as here in Australia. As he travels the world, Tim is always ready to share his knowledge through teaching and workshops, and supports many worthwhile charities along the way.

EXHIBITION HISTORY

1990 Solo exhibition, Tranquillo Gallery, Amsterdam
1991 First major Exhibition, first Western Artist to exhibit in the Eastern block, Sarospatak, Hungary
1992 Solo exhibition at the Bath Fringe Festival.Intesive study of life drawing. Bath Acadamy of Fine Arts
1993 One man show at Body Jazz Rochdale Manchester U.K
1993 Invited to Hungary to be presented to HRH Prince Charles Prince of Wales and an exhibition sponsored by UNICEF in Satoraljaujhely
1994 Solo exhibition, Buda Castle Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
1993 -1996 Painting and drawing as well as body painting in USA, UK and Europe
1995 -1996 Exhibited in Hungary and taught children painting and mural work in Sarospatak
2002 Austria. Jury member at World Body Painting Festival and championship.
2002 Eggstravaganza – Collaboration of Australian Artists raising funds for Ted Noffs Foundation
2002 - 2003 Australia and Europe. Second documentary about Tim and his life and the people he shares it with, both public and private
1996 -2003 Artist studio exhibitions, Sydney, Australia. These exhibitions consisted of landscape and abstract works using oil and more recently acrylic paint
2003 Private photo shoots and advertising work in major magazines, TV and news print
2003 Eggstravaganza – Collaboration of Australian Artists raising funds for John Maclean Foundation
2003 Jury member at World Body Painting Festival and championship, Austria.
2003 Feature Film on Body Painting. Title: Shadows of Time shot on location, Austria
2003 Mural, Dance Studio, Budapest, Hungary
2003 Homage to Caravaggio A Papageno Galleria Budapest, Hungary
2004 Homage to Caravaggio, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney
2004 Be-Tsar Party, Haemophilia Foundation, Australia
2004 Studio Exhibition, Addison Road, Marrickville
2004 Riverview College Art Exhibition, Gladesville, Sydney
2004 Mosaic art project, Belmore South School, Belmore, Sydney.
2005 Studio exhibition at Redfern, Sydney
2005 Sydney Body Art Ride, Sponsor & Artistic Director
2005 Sydney Artshow, Moore Park, Sydney

Tim Grattons paintings and photographs are held in many private collections including HRH Prince Charles of England and Microsoft Inc, Washington, USA.

Contact Tim Gratton