Tony Priddle
Painter (Sydney NSW)

Born in English West Country of farmer, seafarers, innkeepers and gypsies!

My mother (a single mother, in 1947) had lessons, and painted a little. I was a solitary child by circumstance, and became an 'artist' as a means of expression. I went to the local Art School after leaving school at 16, and
attended the National Art School in Sydney shortly after emigrating to Australia, completing a diploma in Fine Art, painting, in 1969. In 1985 I completed a graduate diploma in Fine Art Studies at the City Art Institute,
which became the Fine Arts faculty of UNSW.

However, I regard myself as self taught, and the process as ongoing.

From 1970-1975 I was part of 'The Roxy', a cutting edge cooperative arts workshop just off Taylor Square, Sydney, with a repertoire of music, theatre and performance in a continually changing visual environment.

From 1985 - 89 I maintained a studio in Annandale, Sydney where I made silk-screen serigraph prints in editions of 15 -50, which were marketed through several Sydney galleries. Themes were mostly Sydney landscapes, collections for which print works were purchased included Parliament House Canberra.

I now work full-time as an artist, producing works on paper, canvas, and occassionally other media.

For information on how to purchase / commission my work, please contact me below or call 02 9602 9826 during business hours.

Contact Tony Priddle
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ARTIST STATEMENT:

I require that my work be accessible. at some level, to anyone who will look at something. I am disturbed by Art that cultivates exclusivity. I am influenced in what and how I paint or draw, by what I feel, see, and experience, rather than by the history of Art. Art history is a well to draw from, but it does not show the path ahead. Art is about now, at best. For me it at least has to try to say something about who we are, now, at this
moment of perception, by this process... "

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

‘Natural World’ Groundfloor Gallery, Sydney July 2008.
’Redscape‘ and ‘Higher Ground Obscured’ Wallspace Gallery Sydney October 2006.
‘Pictures from the Western Front’ Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney 1997.
‘Eastside/Westside - Sydney Landscapes Café Gallery Woollhara 1996.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

Gallipoli Art Prize, finalists exhibition. Sydney 2009, 2008.
‘Shadows of Landscape’ Crossbay Gallery, Sydney 2008
‘The Howard Years’ ATVP Gallery,Sydney 2008
‘Mad as Hell’, Brenda May Gallery 2007;
'Jeans for Genes’ project 2007.
’Sedition!’ Casula Powehouse, 2005.

Work has also been included in the Campbelltown, Camden, Waverly, Willoughby and Hunters Hill Annual Art Shows, the Portland Art Purchase and the ’Freedom’Shows for Amnesty International at TAP gallery.

COLLECTIONS:

Press Gallery, Parliament House, Canberra.
Fairfield City Council.
Lithgow City Council.
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
Sydney Port Authority.
Eric Callaway House, Port Phillip.
Raddisson Hotel, Melbourne
South Western Sydney Area Health Service.

Private collections Australia and overseas

PRIZES & AWARDS:

Portland Art Purchase 2009
Highly Commended Camden Art Prize 2004
Portland Art Purchase 2001
Highly Commended John Copes Prize 1999
Liverpool Heritage Art Prize 1996 and 1997
Fairfield Art Prize 1991

“Recommended viewing” Sydney Morning Herald ‘Open Gallery’ 2008

“Interesting ideas and intriguing narrative” Wendy Sharpe, John Copes Prize 1999

“This work shows a strong exploratory approach and an expressive handling of the graphic medium. It gives the work an individuality and personality that lifts it out of the merely competent. Skill and facility are not enough – a certain flair is important which this work clearly demonstrates.”
David Fairbairn, Fairfield Art Prize 1991