Tony Sweeting

Graduated from the Australian National University National Institute of the Arts in 2002 with first class honours majoring in painting. Further study includes, Botanical Drawing, Life Drawing, Water Colour, Bronze Casting, Sculpture and etching.

I have had a couple of solo exhibitions since graduating, participated in several joint exhibitions in Canberra Bega and Sydney and been hung in numerous exhibitions.

I have paintings in private collections including the ANU Drill Hall Gallery and John XXIII College and have completed a number of commissions including illustration of a children's book and large scenery backdrops for several ballet performances. For several years I participated in curating the annual Wyndham Art Show.

Awards and prizes:

2013 Bega Regional gallery, NSW, Winner of The 2013 Bega Valley Art Awards,
2011 Bega Regional Gallery, NSW, Diversion 2011 - The Art of Waste,
Seniors Category - First Place
2004 ACT Arts Funding Program,
2004 Emerging Artists assistance for Passages exhibition at Bega Regional Gallery
2001 ANU Art Collection Acquisition Award
2001 KPMG Acquisition Award 2001 Network Economics Consulting Group
Acquisition Award
2001 Spring into Life, People's Choice Award
2000 Spring into Life, People's Choice Award

I have always been interested in nature, its form, symmetry and intricacies and I have a suspicion that these forms have an influence on the psyche. I think that there is inherent knowledge in each of us of symmetry, caves, holes, shiny slime, cobwebs, mist, wetness, velvety surfaces etc and this comes from experiences that we have had during our evolution, where we were safe. My idea is that there is therefore a "primal instinct" in each of us for shapes, patterns and forms and that the viewer's recognition originates below the normal visual surface, at the molecular level. My usual art practice involves interpreting these natural phenomena using large works of oil on canvas often working from microscopic images. I describe these as molecular landscapes.

Working as a behind the scenes artist in the feature film "Life Class" was a great opportunity to produce literal works and enjoy the experience of film making – a fantastic experience.