Martin is an Australian wildlife and portrait artist born in Bendigo, Victoria on the 7th November 1967.
In 1972 he enrolled for an illustration course via the Adelaide college of the arts. He would later complete a graphic design course and be awarded a diploma of graphic design and illustration at that same college.
Martin was offered a position as the first official portrait artist to represent Queensland at the 1988 Brisbane world expo. Martin was also commissioned by Expo organizers to design and build a mobile Brisbane Expo themed wall mural. The monument was constructed in 3 large canvas sections and was painted with the help of a group of artists during one of the final parades of the world fair.
Following the Brisbane Expo Martin set up a portrait studio in Brisbane which would act as a base while he painted wall murals at various locations in Brisbane and suburbs. Some of his portrait commissions included country musician stars Lee Conway Chad Morgan.
Martin also managed to complete an apprenticeship as a signwriter and worked for various sign companies, which would eventually see him land contracts with Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast where he was contracted along with signwriters, Artists and interior decorators to create aged gold and marble effects for the building’s interior.
In the early 90’s Martin also worked for Channel 10 Brisbane as a court artist and station illustrator. Some of his involuntary subjects included characters such as Police Commissioner Terry Lewis , Luke Shaw , Jack Herbert (The bagman), Vic Conte and Gerry Bellino.
The following 10 years were spent working as a professional Illustrator for 2 of Queensland’s largest Souvenir distributors, WW Souvenirs and Souvenirs Australia launching his highly successful designs into the global tourist market. During this time Martin completed a number of wildlife paintings and received a highly commended award for his illustration of a pair of Bald Eagles entitled “Nesting Ground” which was entered into the Ken Cowley art competition in 1998.
Martin’s career was curtailed in 2007 after he suffered a fall from a scaffolding. After 2 years, Martin eventually regained full use of his hand and fingers with enough dexterity and strength to once again pick up the paint brushes.
In 2023, Martin revived his earlier passion as wildlife artist and is currently painting watercolour works featuring Australian wildlife shown at exhibitions both locally and overseas. Martin is a winner of the Talent prize award in the 2023 “Animal international juried art contest” held in Los Angeles for his bald eagle pastel drawing entitled “Surveillant Poise”.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2021
- Last updated:
- 2023
