Born in Hove, England on 13 July 1935, Tony (Anthony George William) Canfield came to Australia when he was seventeen. Canfield worked on a wheat and sheep property in central New South Wales, an experience that influenced his later artistic work. In 1968 he moved to Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains. Over the next few years Canfield worked as a full-time artist in northern New South Wales and Tasmania. He spent a year in England in 1976, returning to the Blue Mountains in 1981 with his wife, Cherril, and daughter, Jane, also a practising artist.
Canfield’s painting, executed primarily in oils, was largely inspired by his love for the Australian landscape and reveals the influence of Australian Impressionism, particularly the art of Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts. Amongst his artistic output, Canfield painted a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill which received a favourable written response from Lady Clementine Churchill. His works are featured in many collections around the world, including Australia House, London, Utah Constructions, MLC and Westpac.
Around 1981, Canfield was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He died on 16 January 2004. His two brothers, Neville and John Canfield, were also artists.
- Writers:
- Jane Canfield
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
