About Ben

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, both of which he regularly paints from life, often painting from the back of his car en route to teach classes or a workshop. Passing on his knowledge to those whom attend his classes and workshops is his other passion as he seeks to ground them 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.

See more at Ben’s website here, and on his Facebook and Instagram pages.

Awards & Accomplishments

Ben is a multi-award winning artist, including the Castlemaine James Farrell Self Portrait Prize, the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize, and he was also nominated as the 2016 Victorian Artist Society ARTIST OF THE YEAR. His other notable accomplishments include:

• Finalist and Highly Commended Winner ANL Maritime Art prize, Melbourne 2018

• Winner of the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize Major Award, Glen Eira City Council, Melbourne 2016

• Winner of the Inaugural Mavis Little Artist of the Year Award, Victorian Artists’ Society, Melbourne 2016

• Winner Nada Hunter Award for ‘Emily in Black Dress’ and Highly Commended for Self Portrait, Victorian Artists’ Society Portrait Exhibition, Melbourne 2015

• Winner of the James Farrell Self Portrait Prize. Castlemaine Art Gallery. (Permanent Collection) 2003

Artist Statement 

I paint anything that takes my fancy at the time but have a particular for portraiture and our unique Australian landscape. My work spans the spectrum from realism to abstraction - depending on how I feel the subject is best  portrayed and how I respond to it.

Ben’s Artworks

If you would like to enquire about purchasing an artwork, please contact The Brandon Circle here.