Biography
Ben Winspear is a Melbourne based artist who works in both oil and watercolour.
His work encapsulates a wide range of subject matter; anything that inspires him at the time. His painting often runs the full spectrum from purely representational through to abstraction – as he seeks to develop a synthesis of both in his own unique and personal visual language to describe the world around him.
His two loves though are the portrait/figure and the Australian landscape and regularly paints both from life, often painting from the back of his car en route to teach classes or a workshop. Passing on his knowledge to those who attend his classes and workshops is Ben’s other passion. He seeks to ground students solidly in the traditions of observational drawing and painting with an informed use of quality materials.
He has been painting professionally for over fifteen years and has held several successful solo and joint exhibitions and been involved in numerous arts projects in the education field. Ben is also a multi-award winner including winning the Castlemaine James Farrell Self Portrait Prize, the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize, and was nominated the 2016 Victorian Artist Society ARTIST OF THE YEAR.
| 2022 | Development and teaching of the Advanced One Year Course |
| 2021 | Development and teaching of the One Year Course |
| 2019 | Teaching privately. Painting Mr Phillip Dunn QC in his chambers Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. |
| 2018 | Finalist and Highly Commended Winner ANL Maritime Art prize, Melbourne. |
| 2018 | Teaching privately and at the Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne. Completing works and commissions. |
| 2017 | Teaching Privately from his studio and completing works and commissions. |
| 2016 December | Winner of the 2016 A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize Major Award, Glen Eira City Council, Melbourne. |
| 2016 November | Winner of the Inaugural Mavis Little Artist of the Year Award, Victorian Artists’ Society, Melbourne. |
| 2015 June – July | 3P Exhibition, with Scott Wileman & Warren Cooke. Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 2015 May | Winner Nada Hunter Award for ‘Emily in Black Dress’ and Highly Commended for Self Portrait, Victorian Artists’ Society Portrait Exhibition, Melbourne. |
| 2014 | ‘Two Dimension’ Exhibition with Scott Wileman – Ceramist. Customs House Gallery, Echuca. |
| 2013 | Continuing private art tuition, Exhibition Curating and Public school projects. |
| 2012 | Private tutoring and designing and facilitating creative projects. |
| 2012 | Served on Business Together Bendigo Art sector planning Committee. |
| 2011 | Re commencing giving private tuition in Representational realism. |
| 2010 | Construction of Sculpture commissioned by City of Greater Bendigo at California Gully Play Space, Bendigo. |
| 2009 March | Consultant to City of Greater Bendigo in designing and construction of sculpture to be incorporated in City of Greater Bendigo New Play space Strategy 2008-2013. |
| 2008 April | Elected as one of six community members to serve a two year term on the City of Greater Bendigo ACAC committee (Arts and Cultural Advisory committee). |
| 2008 July | Highly commended – Beannaithe Spiorad Art Exhibition – Otis Foundation. Bendigo. |
| 2007 November | Finalist – James Farrell Self Portrait prize. |
| 2007 February | Finalist in the Churches of Christ Theological College Centenary Religious Art Prize – ‘The Light of Life’ Mulgrave, Victoria |
| 2006 August | Solo Exhibition, Boort Victoria. |
| 2006 July | Finalist – Robert Jacks Drawing Prize 2006 Bendigo Art Gallery. |
| 2006 June | Double Vision, Artist Exchange. Chosen as one of six artists to represent the City of Greater Bendigo to the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia. |
| 2006 March | Solo Exhibition ‘The Way I See’, The Capital Theatre Bendigo |
| 2005 November | Finalist in the James Farrell Self Portrait prize. |
| 2004 October | Solo Exhibition ‘Human Hands – Dudley House hire subsidy. Grant awarded by The City of Greater Bendigo. |
| 2004 May | Solo Exhibition at the Old Colonial Bank Gallery, Bendigo. |
| 2003 November | Winner of the James Farrell Self Portrait Prize. Castlemaine Art Gallery. (Permanent Collection) |
| 2003 June | Solo Exhibition ‘The Spirit of Ben Winspear’ Dudley House, Bendigo. |
| 1997 | Sam Slater Encouragement Award, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia. |
