Colleen Werner

376 Coombes Road,
Birdwood NSW, 2446
Phone: 02 65877182

Email: wermac@bigpond.com

"Morning discovery - Boletus Fungi"
Watercolour

She was born in Sydney, Australia. Trained at Meadowbank Technical College (1978 -1979) awarded Art Certificate. Also trained at Sydney College of Advanced Education, City Art Institute (1980 - 1982), now a college incorporated in the University of N.S.W., awarded a Bachelor of Visual Art Degree

She was born in Sydney, Australia. Trained at Meadowbank Technical College (1978 -1979) awarded Art Certificate. Also trained at Sydney College of Advanced Education, City Art Institute (1980 - 1982) ,now a college incorporated in the University of N.S.W., awarded a Bachelor of Visual Art Degree

All her life Colleen has been drawn to the natural world. During her student days she learnt how to express her deep interest in fauna and flora, and current ecological issues through her art. Many hours were spent as a consequence studing and drawing at Taronga Zoo and the Australian Museum in Sydney as an adjunct to her art studies.

Soon after graduating from Art School she moved away from Sydney . Finally settling at Birdwood, west of Wauchope, N.S.W., where she has helped to develop a farm and a nursery growing and propagating local native plants, mainly rainforest species.

She is an elected member of The Australian Watercolour Institute. And a member of The Wildlife Artists Society of Australasia, The Queensland Wildlife Art Society, The Botanical Art Society of Australia, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Florilegium Society, and The Australian Society of Miniature Art.

Her work is exhibited throughout the year in various exhibitions and galleries around the country and occasionally overseas. She has received numerous awards, mainly for watercolour and drawing, She was invited to exhibit with the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney – Botanica Exhibition ,The Sceggs Westpac Art Prize ,and The Frank Saxby Prize. Also she has been a finalist in The Faber Castell Drawing Prize, The Jacaranda Drawing Prize and Three times finalist in The Hutchins School Art Prize. She was invited to contribute to the Royal Botanic Gardens Bicentennal Florilegium collection. In 2006 she traveled to Busan , South Korea to represent the Australian Watercolour Institute at the opening of "The Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour". She was also granted a Residency at Bundanon. She has work held in public Australian Collections at Bundanon, The National Herbarium at The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, The N.S.W. Arts Council, The Greater Taree City Council, and The Port Macquarie Hastings Council. Her work is also held in collections in Canada, Germany, Holland, South Korea and Japan.

Colleen works in a number of mediums, including watercolour, graphite, oils, and etching. She mostly works in watercolour. Most works are detailed studies of the natural world. A great deal of her inspiration is sourced fron the bushland that surrounds her home .She feels privileged to live where she lives, on the edge of the Werrikimbee Wilderness - a World Heritage listed area. She is captivated by the animals and plants she encounters in her ramblings. It is hoped that through these close studies, the viewer may be drawn into thinking of broader ecological questions, and be held in awe of the natural environment as she is.

"Diploglottis campbellii - Ruby Fruit"
Watercolour

Bibliography:
"Australian Watercolour Institute",75th Annivesary 1923-1998,Beagle Press 1998
"The Australian Watercolour Institute – A Gallery Of Australia’s Finest Watercolours", Phillip Mathews Book Publishers 2006.
"2002 Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour", Catalogue Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour held in conjunction with the Asian Games and the Busan Biennale, South Korea 2002.
"2004 Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour", Catalogue of Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour held in conjunction with the Busan Biennale, South Korea 2004.
"2006 Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour", Catalogue of Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour in Busan, South Korea 2006.
"2008 Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour", Catalogue of Grand Festival of Asian Watercolour in Busan, South Korea 2008
"Local Eye View", Catalogue to exhibition held at Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery 2004.
The "Australian Artist Magazine".
The "Wildlife Artists Society of Australasia Magazine".
"Kalimat" Issue Number 24, September 2006, An international magazine of creative writing.