Biography

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Ben Winspear is a Melbourne based artist who works in oil, watercolour and more recently sculpture. He has been painting professionally for over fifteen years and has held several successful solo exhibitions.

Ben paints a wide range of subject matter; anything that inspires him at the time, but his love for the Australian landscape is something that stands out.

His work runs the full spectrum from representational through to abstraction, frequently combining both.

He is a multi-award winning artist in Victoria, including the Castlemaine James Farrell Self Portrait Prize and A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize.

Ben has facilitated the execution of several major art projects in schools – and projects in conjunction with local government and private departments – including The City of Greater Bendigo, Coliban Water, NCCA, Department of Primary Industries.

Ben is a tutor at the Victorian Artists’ Society, and offers private tuition also.

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2017  March – April Homecoming Exhibition at Gallery 365, Bendigo.
2016  December Winner of the 2016 A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize, 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 of the Nada Hunter Award for ‘Emily in Black Dress’ and Highly Commended for Self Portrait. Victorian Artists Society Portrait Exhibition, Melbourne.
2014 ‘Two Dimensions’ 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 Currently serving 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 Bendigoat 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
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 – James Farrell Self Portrait prize.
2004 October Solo Exhibition: ‘Human Hands’ – Dudley House
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 AwardWildlife Art Society of Australasia.