John Brooke
Visual Artist (Avalon, NSW)

Northern beaches artist John Brooke graduated from the National Art School 1981, however ceased painting soon after to concentrate on a business career. He returned to painting in 1997 with group shows in 1998 and 1999 and a solo show at Anita Ellis Gallery in 2000.

John has won numerous awards for his artworks, including Billy Blue Prize (1998), Waverly Prize Acrylics (2002) and Blacktown Prize Mixed Media (2001). He works mainly on plywood or mdf braced by a hardwood frame. Often small shapes of painted wood or mdf project from the picture plane adding a shallow third dimension, and sometimes other found objects are also incorporated in niches constructed within the work.

Most of John's work is to do with his life in Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches, and the colours and shapes that abound where the ocean meets the sky. Over time, his work has become more abstract, and is often assymetrical, not conforming to the usual rectangle.

His paintings have more to do with feel of the northern peninsula on a hot summer's day, the coolness of the beach or the noise of the city, and the journeys people make as they commute across town.

John is interested in connecting with other contemporary artists, particularly those working on the northern beaches Peninsular in Sydney.

Contact John Brooke