Biography

Ben Winspear sitting in barefoot on the floor in front of a large canvas. His dog is next to Him resting on the floor.

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.

2022Development and teaching of the Advanced One Year Course
2021Development and teaching of the One Year Course
2019 Teaching privately. Painting Mr Phillip Dunn QC in his chambers Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
2018Finalist and Highly Commended Winner ANL Maritime Art prize, Melbourne.
2018Teaching privately and at the Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne. Completing works and
commissions.
2017 Teaching Privately from his studio and completing works and commissions.
2016 DecemberWinner 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 – July3P Exhibition, with Scott Wileman & Warren Cooke. Brunswick Street Gallery,
Melbourne.
2015 MayWinner 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.
2013Continuing private art tuition, Exhibition Curating and Public school projects.
2012Private tutoring and designing and facilitating creative projects.
2012Served on Business Together Bendigo Art sector planning Committee.
2011Re commencing giving private tuition in Representational realism.
2010Construction of Sculpture commissioned by City of Greater Bendigo at California Gully Play Space,
Bendigo.
2009 MarchConsultant 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 AprilElected 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 JulyHighly commended – Beannaithe Spiorad Art Exhibition – Otis Foundation. Bendigo.
2007 NovemberFinalist – James Farrell Self Portrait prize.
2007 FebruaryFinalist in the Churches of Christ Theological College Centenary Religious Art Prize – ‘The
Light of Life’ Mulgrave, Victoria
2006 AugustSolo Exhibition, Boort Victoria.
2006 JulyFinalist – Robert Jacks Drawing Prize 2006 Bendigo Art Gallery.
2006 JuneDouble Vision, Artist Exchange. Chosen as one of six artists to represent the City of Greater
Bendigo to the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia.
2006 MarchSolo Exhibition ‘The Way I See’, The Capital Theatre Bendigo
2005 NovemberFinalist in the James Farrell Self Portrait prize.
2004 OctoberSolo Exhibition ‘Human Hands – Dudley House hire subsidy. Grant awarded by The City of
Greater Bendigo.
2004 MaySolo Exhibition at the Old Colonial Bank Gallery, Bendigo.
2003 NovemberWinner of the James Farrell Self Portrait Prize. Castlemaine Art Gallery. (Permanent
Collection)
2003 JuneSolo Exhibition ‘The Spirit of Ben Winspear’ Dudley House, Bendigo.
1997Sam Slater Encouragement Award, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.

Contact details

Emailben@benwinspearart.com
Phone0427 505 793
Facebookhttps://facebook.com/.benwinspearart/
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/benwinspearart/