About Fred Marsh - Sydney Artist


Born in Dundee, Scotland moving to Sydney Australia when a teenager.

All children love to draw and paint, then something happens and most stop as they get older. I am just one of the fortunate few who didn’t stop. Instead my childhood imaginative drawings changed to filling school exercise books with drawing of great moments in football matches, which my team always won.

I am currently inspired by the diversity of mood, atmosphere and light effects seen in the landscape, coast & urban areas. 

Art Practice

​The basis of my art practice is based on:

  • Drawing, sketching & painting in “plein air” (in front of the subject, generally outdoors) ·

  • The never ending search to capture light in a unique and personal way.

  • The use of a few mediums including watercolour, acrylic and my preferred medium of oils sometimes  mixed with cold wax.


I found out pretty quickly in the journey that art can intrude into many aspects of ones life, and to do it properly it becomes a lifestyle. The romantic notion of sitting in a garret doesn’t work, one needs to be out there observing and experiencing the atmosphere, light and letting the view stimulate your imagination & creativity.

Presently I am exploring the themes of light in the city and the coast. Both are quite different conditions and the city at night is attracting my eye, as does the magic hour when the sparkle energizes the water in a harbour or at the coast.

I am a representational painter but heading towards a less distinct place, where I want to leave more unsaid in the painting for the viewer to discover.
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Methods

My method is primarily based on getting the tones right then building colour using direct strokes allied with scumbles and glazes. Greys are very important to my work as they provide the platform for both the tonal structure and the emphasis of colour. I find the interplay with cool and warm colour particularly satisfying in capturing form & luminosity in a painting.

Usually I start a painting in front of the subject and have a clear view of what I want. However, sometimes a bit of “magic” happens and it reaches a stage when I can see that the painting is trying to take over and leading me somewhere else. I find it satisfying to let go and let the painting take me there.

What I want out of my paintings constantly evolves; it is a never ending but stimulating & meditative journey which reflects my world. Currently I aim to include a narrative content within a strong foundation of light and atmosphere. I start with a literal reference (drawing or idea), and I am increasingly finding that there comes a very satisfying time when the painting takes over & it dictates the outcome, rather than the original reference.

Plein air painting & sketching outdoors plays a big part in my practice. Every week I visit new places to draw, sketch and paint on the spot. I have discovered so many places that I didn’t know existed and have become a tourist in my own town. Ones eyes need to be refreshed & I also travel overseas frequently taking my sketching equipment, to gather new material & follow the trail of those artists who have come before. Nothing beats painting outdoors where you can feel the sun and wind, and “hear” the landscape, it always turns out to be a nice day at the “office.” 

Exhibitions
2022 Postcodes from the Edge, Wollongong Regional Gallery , Awarded 1st Place . Until 5 June 2022
2020-21 Hazelhurst 2020 Exhibition . Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sutherland. Joint Exhibition to celebrate Hazelhursts 20th Anniversary.
​2019 Postcodes From The Edge, Wollongong Regional Gallery 15 Nov – 2 February 2020
2019 Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong  (Joint with Barbara Gray)
2018 Hunters Hill Art Prize  (Finalist)
2017 Ardency Art Prize  (Highly Commended)
2016 Kogarah Art Prize (Finalist)
2016 & 2015  Waterbrook Sydney
2015 Art of Sydney, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney (Finalist)
2016 2014 & 2012 St George Art Prize, Art Gallery Hurstville  (Finalist)
2014 Parliamentary Plein Air Prize, Macquarie Street Sydney (Semi Finalist)

My work is in private collections in all states of Australia, most states of the US, UK, New Zealand, and Singapore. Paintings have also been acquired for corporate collections in the US and Australia.

Memberships
​Urban Sketchers Australia 
NAVA (National Association for the Visual Arts)

You will also see my work on Instagram & Facebook

Newsletter

Every few months, I issue a newsletter including an internet based preview of new work to existing collectors of my work and to those who have asked to be included. This provides those people who have supported me, with the opportunity to first see and buy new works at a special price. You are welcome to participate in these previews, by clicking here.

Prints and Cards are now available online
Please contact me for further information.