Biography


Becoming an artist can involve many twists and turns.  Beverly grew up on the family farm near Bemboka on the Far South Coast of NSW. This land would later come to inspire her contemporary work.  Leaving behind art studies at 16, she pursued an academic career, qualifying as an Occupational Therapist.  Further studies saw Beverly specialise in ergonomics, a field of endeavour that now informs her depiction of human form.  After ten years, Beverly switched careers to sales and marketing for a more creative outlet, but after attending a two month life drawing class in Sydney in 2001, she realised that only a return to artistic practice would satisfy that integral part of her connection to art.  Beverly enrolled fulltime in the Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts, the Sydney Gallery School, in February 2002 - her best decision in almost 20 years.

Since then Beverly has had numerous group exhibitions of her work in Sydney, including Depot II gallery in Danks Street, Waterloo  and The Gunnery in Woolloomooloo. Her first solo exhibition was held in May 2005 at the Annabel Wallace Gallery, in the country town of Young. Her second solo exhibition opened at the Annabel Wallace Gallery, in Murringo (July 2006).  After the birth of her greatest creation, her son, in 2008, Beverly’s third solo opened, again at the Annabel Wallace Gallery in Murringo (October 2009). Following this, her next solo show, titled “Toward Bemboka”, was held at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery in October 2010.

Beverly is best known for her oil paintings and printmaking, particularly etching.  Her work also includes drawings, acrylic and watercolours.  Her interest in photography often overlaps all these areas.   Her paintings reflect the influence of the Impressionists and Australian artists like Lloyd Rees, but her main source of inspiration comes from her strong connection with the country, its people and the land.  Many of her original landscapes have been set in the Bega Valley where she was born and grew up, including perspectives from the original family farm near Bemboka.  Beverly's more recent landscape works have evolved from the Kangaroo Valley (NSW), and we will soon see works from her new homeland in the Southern Highlands of NSW. 

In 2010 Beverly commenced studies at the celebrated Charlie Sheard Studio School in Sydney – a 3 year course that teaches the techniques of the old masters with an in-depth study of paint and process.  This has led to a developing fascination for, and appreciation of, 15th to 17th century painting.  Beverly remains truly inspired by the richness of the information given at the course, even though it is now completed.  This is not only because of the courses illuminating and fulfilling content but also because it has signaled the beginning of a new adventure; she has allowed it to influence perhaps slightly her style and definitely her subject matter. So far, as a result, Beverly has delighted in exploring portraiture and still life utilising her most powerful and passionate inspiration to date, her son and her role, as mum.