Michael Nicholas
Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page for more details and prices of Michael's work.
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Born - UK Resides - Brisbane, Queensland Michael Nicholas was born in 1942 and his early careers included working in mining and in the Queensland Police Force. These afforded him the opportunity to live in more remote places and to gain a real understanding of the Australian bush and especially its flora and fauna. It is these subjects which have captivated him and inspired his painting and he has been firmly established as a professional painter since the 1970’s. Please note -
Not all the artworks shown here are on site at the gallery at any given time. If you would like to view a particular artwork at the gallery please contact us first so we can ensure that it is at the gallery. 07-5429 6404 or admin@artoncairncross.com.au Many Thanks, Jane and Tony |
A Savage Beauty - Oil on Board - 91x91cm
River Gums on the Warrego - Oil on Board - 61x76cm
Morning light West of Bourke - Oil on Board - 60x90cm
Moonrise in the Ranges - Oil on Board - 34x44cm
Brolga Flight II - Oil on Board - 21x32cm
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Brolga Passing the Moon - Oil on Board - 20x30cm
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The Meeting - Oil on Board - 31x43cm
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Egrets Along the River - Oil on Board - 28x42cm
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Brolga - Oil on Paper - 29x33cm
River Gums on Bowra I - Oil on Board - 60x90cm
Central Queensland Landscape I - Oil on Board - 28x38cm
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Central Queensland Landscape II - Oil on Board - 28x38cm
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The Dust Approaching - Oil on Board - 44x39cm
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Set in Stone - Oil on Board - 44x44cm
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The Rugged Inland Range - Oil on Paper - 25x40cm
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Taking to Flight - Oil on Paper - 25x40cm
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River Gums on the Bowra II - Oil on Board - 60x90cm
Wetland Flight - Oil on Canvas - 29x38cm
Brolga Spirit - Oil on Canvas - 30x42cm
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Taking Flight - Oil on Board - 27x36cm
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Estuary - Oil on Board - 36x27cm
Pelicans, Lake Eyre - Oil on Paper - 25x38cm
The Colour of Winter, Northern Victoria - Oil & Acrylic on Board - 26x48cm
In 1992 he was appointed to the Queensland Government “Artists in Parks” program and completed a residency at Girraween National Park.
In 1996 the book “I Love a Sunburnt Country” was released featuring a series of Michael’s paintings to accompany Dorothea MacKellar’s iconic poem “My Country”.
Following this time and a couple of trips to the UK to complete commissions and study European artworks, Michael found much of his time taken in portrait painting for both individuals and organisations. His art also took a new direction with the completion of a series of abstract paintings, then religious works and 4 bronze sculptures for a heritage walk in Brisbane.
In 2000 the Queensland Government commissioned a portrait of former Premier the Hon. E.G. Theodore for Parliament House and this led on to an entire project to paint all of the Premiers from 1860 to 1946 and several contemporary parliamentarians including then Premier Peter Beattie.
In 2002 “Portrait of the Painter” was held at Redcliffe Regional Art Gallery as a 30 year retrospective exhibition to celebrate the artist’s 60th birthday and 30 year career.
In 2005 Michael designed “The Cunnamulla Fella”, a 2.5m bronze sculpture which stands proudly in Cunnamulla, Qld.
Throughout his career Michael has been awarded many times including the Redcliffe Prize; Royal National Association Landscape Prize; Beenleigh Art Prize; Queensland Art Gallery Trustees Art Prize; Suncorp Art Prize; Aberdare Art Prize and more.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS;
1970 McInnes Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1971 Design Arts Centre, Brisbane, Qld.
1973 Hesley Galleries, Orange, NSW
1974 Martin Gallery, Townsville, Qld.
1975 Bakehouse Gallery, Mackay, Qld.
1976 Bowker Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1977 Tia Galleries, Toowoomba, Qld.
1978 Studio Zero, Gold Coast, Qld.
1980 Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
1981 Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, Stanthorpe, Qld.
1985 Australian Art Expo, San Francisco & Los Angeles, USA
1987 Upstairs Gallery, Cairns, Qld.
1989 Town Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1992 Waterfront Place, Brisbane, Qld.
2016 "Mutual Respect" (with Rex Backhaus-Smith, Rick Everingham and Tom McAulay) June - Art on Cairncross
2019 Outback Revisited - Art on Cairncross - October
SELECTED COLLECTIONS;
Queensland Art Gallery Commonwealth Govt. Art Bank
Perc Tucker Regional Art Gallery, Townsville Brisbane City Gallery
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery Griffith University
Queensland Univeristy of Technology University of New England
Moreton Bay Regional Council James Cook University, Townsville
Parliament House, Qld.
and many private collections far and wide.
In 1996 the book “I Love a Sunburnt Country” was released featuring a series of Michael’s paintings to accompany Dorothea MacKellar’s iconic poem “My Country”.
Following this time and a couple of trips to the UK to complete commissions and study European artworks, Michael found much of his time taken in portrait painting for both individuals and organisations. His art also took a new direction with the completion of a series of abstract paintings, then religious works and 4 bronze sculptures for a heritage walk in Brisbane.
In 2000 the Queensland Government commissioned a portrait of former Premier the Hon. E.G. Theodore for Parliament House and this led on to an entire project to paint all of the Premiers from 1860 to 1946 and several contemporary parliamentarians including then Premier Peter Beattie.
In 2002 “Portrait of the Painter” was held at Redcliffe Regional Art Gallery as a 30 year retrospective exhibition to celebrate the artist’s 60th birthday and 30 year career.
In 2005 Michael designed “The Cunnamulla Fella”, a 2.5m bronze sculpture which stands proudly in Cunnamulla, Qld.
Throughout his career Michael has been awarded many times including the Redcliffe Prize; Royal National Association Landscape Prize; Beenleigh Art Prize; Queensland Art Gallery Trustees Art Prize; Suncorp Art Prize; Aberdare Art Prize and more.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS;
1970 McInnes Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1971 Design Arts Centre, Brisbane, Qld.
1973 Hesley Galleries, Orange, NSW
1974 Martin Gallery, Townsville, Qld.
1975 Bakehouse Gallery, Mackay, Qld.
1976 Bowker Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1977 Tia Galleries, Toowoomba, Qld.
1978 Studio Zero, Gold Coast, Qld.
1980 Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
1981 Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, Stanthorpe, Qld.
1985 Australian Art Expo, San Francisco & Los Angeles, USA
1987 Upstairs Gallery, Cairns, Qld.
1989 Town Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
1992 Waterfront Place, Brisbane, Qld.
2016 "Mutual Respect" (with Rex Backhaus-Smith, Rick Everingham and Tom McAulay) June - Art on Cairncross
2019 Outback Revisited - Art on Cairncross - October
SELECTED COLLECTIONS;
Queensland Art Gallery Commonwealth Govt. Art Bank
Perc Tucker Regional Art Gallery, Townsville Brisbane City Gallery
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery Griffith University
Queensland Univeristy of Technology University of New England
Moreton Bay Regional Council James Cook University, Townsville
Parliament House, Qld.
and many private collections far and wide.
