Talent Profile
Drew Harrison – Visual Artist
(Approved and Authorised by Drew Harrison 19th March 2015)
If you were doing some research on the visual artist Drew Harrison, you would be excused for
thinking that there were two Drew Harrisons. There is the Drew Harrison who is the well-respected
historical military artist and there is the accomplished contemporary artist. In reality, both are one
and the same artist.
Drew was born in Adelaide and has decided to base himself among the creative community in his
home town. He holds a Bachelor of Design (Illustration Design) with Honours from the University of
South Australia and started his career as an illustrator. Early projects in the field of illustration
included several publications such as the children’s book “A Horse and More” by Pauline Reeve1 in
2000.
By the time he reached his mid-twenties, Drew realised that pursuing a professional career as a fine
artist was a realistic option. With great courage he made the transition into a new career.
Drew has studied the works of a broad range of artists and draws influence and inspiration from
them. These influencing artists are very diverse and include Ivor Hele, Brett Whiteley, Jeffrey Smart,
John William Waterhouse, Roy Lichtenstein, Arthur Streeton, Doug Chiang, James Gurney, Herbert
Gustav Schmalz, and Elizabeth Thompson.
In both his historical military art and his contemporary work, people appreciate his detail,
conceptualisation, technical quality and thoughtful application of colour and light.
Drew Harrison – Historical Military Artist
Drew is best known for his work as a historical military artist.
An interest in flight led to a successful period of detailed Aviation painting and regular prizes in the
Royal Australian Air Force Heritage Awards. These works have since become part of the Service’s
permanent collection. This has remained part of Drew’s regular repertoire with commissions to
undertake works of significant Australian military history.
In his historic military work, Drew demonstrates his meticulous attention to detail as well as his
highly developed technical drafting and painting skills. His use of perspective and light give a genuine
reality to his work; transporting the viewer back in time and giving them a sense of being in the
action.
1
See: ISBN 1864760389
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Clearly you can see the influence of
Robert Taylor, James Dietz, Septimus
Powers, Ivor Hele, Arthur Streeton, and
Elizabeth Thompson in his work, even
though Drew is often dealing with more
modern images and concepts.
Drew researches his subjects well using
as many reference materials
contemporary to the period as available
and possible.
Interestingly, unlike war artists that work
in theatre, Drew has successfully
Battle for Australia
amalgamated historical research skills
with his technical painting skills allowing him to make accurate historical representations without
having been in the theatre of war – very much in the tradition of the great English artist, Elizabeth
Thompson.
Drew’s work as a historical military artist is painstakingly time consuming. The seemingly effortless
expression of a point in time passed belies the time and effort taken to complete each painting.
Drew Harrison – Contemporary Artist and “Thematic Progressionist”
Drew is less well known as a contemporary artist but those people who have seen his work are
genuinely excited by his command of the genre.
As a contemporary artist, Drew describes himself as a “Thematic Progressionist” artist who explores
a definitive set of themes using a progressive series of technical artistic styles to add greater depth
and perspective to the exposition of those themes.
The exploration and exposition of themes by a Thematic
Progressionist, by definition, draws on a wide range of
inspirations and is not always limited to a single point of
reference as it drawn from many areas.
This also requires great technical excellence as the artist
has to apply a wide range of technical skills as
competently as if it were their only discipline.
The theme that underpins Drew's work is a search for
connections across the complexities of human lives that
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are becoming increasingly characterised by fragmentation, provocation and isolation. This allows
him to indulge in storytelling with the aim of challenging individual viewpoints.
This examination of humanity is often represented subliminally via mechanical and inanimate
objects.
Drew’s early career as an illustrator formed a
solid foundation for his evolution into a
contemporary artist. Acrylic paint is his medium
of choice and a material that he has adeptly
mastered.
Most interesting in his contemporary work is his
use of hidden context; engaging the observer in
the creative interpretive process.
Drew’s contemporary work explores many
different styles reflecting the breadth of his
understanding of artists like Ralph MacQuarrie,
Doug Chiang, James Gurney, Josh Kirby, Brett
Whiteley, Jeffrey Smart, John William
Waterhouse, Roy Lichtenstein, and Herbert
Gustav Schmalz.
Urban Commando
Most importantly, Drew manages to combine artistic integrity and the ability to challenge with
aesthetic beauty making his art accessible – often pleasant pictures that only reveal their full
meaning over extended viewing. This makes his paintings suitable for corporate and home living
spaces.
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Awards
2014
1st Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Operation Falconer”
2013
People’s Choice – WEAVA Tutor Exhibition “Fat of the Land”
2012
2nd Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Pressure Point”
2011
Best Artistic Interpretation of Light – Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral
Adelaide) “Sundowner”
2010
2nd Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Nowhere to Hide”
2008
Best Social Comment of Observation of Human Behaviour – St Peter’s Cathedral Art Show
“The Golden Age”
2nd Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Exercise Kangaroo II: Mirage vs
Tomcat”
2007
Merit Award – Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide) “Sky Defence
Network”
Finalist – Australian Artist Magazine’s Art Prize Challenge No.29 “Last Light at Ridge Road”
2006
Finalist – Heysen Art Prize for Australian Landscape Painting “Fractured Landscape & Ghost
Tree”
2005
Highly Commended – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Night Spectres”
Merit Award - Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide) “Serpentine”
2004
Finalist - Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize (painting used for T.V. Commercial and
Exhibition Brochure) “Box Stingers”
2002
People’s Choice - R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Keeper of the Flame”
1999
2nd Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Malta: The Vampire Citadel”
1998
2nd Prize – R.A.A.F National Heritage Awards (Art section) “Butterworth Sabres”
1987
Gold Award – The 17th International Children’s Art Exhibition “Anzac Soldier”
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Solo Exhibitions
2014
Exhibition 1 + 1: Adelaide Convention Centre (2nd Sept – 4th Oct 2014) opened by Bryce
Coombe, Managing Director of Clemenger BBDO, Adelaide
Adelaide International Airport: Terminal 1 – Domestic & International (10th May – 4th July
2014)
Art Collaboration Projects & Publications
2015
Australia-wide Publication – The Great War Collection
2014
The Art of the Australian SAS – Artwork contribution
2014
Australia-wide Publication – The Great War Collection
2013
Australia-wide Publication – Vietnam, Combined Arms Contact
Australia-wide Publication – The Battle of Lone Pine; 2013 Sands of Gallipoli
Commemorative Collection
RAAF Calendar – artwork used for October, December 2013 and January 2014
Group Exhibitions
2013
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
2013
Lasting Impressions: A Retrospective of WEA Artists – RSASA Gallery Adelaide (10th Nov –
1st Dec 2013)
WEAVA WEA 2013 Centenary Exhibition – WEA Adelaide (3rd Aug – 31st Aug 2013)
2011
Our Art, Your Heritage: RAAF 90th Anniversary Art Exhibition – Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne (25th Mar – 28th May 2011)
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
2010
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
2009
Real, Surreal, Still & Incredible: Collaborative exhibition with Roger Roberts, Ross Morgan &
Matthew Welsby; SALA Festival (14th – 16th Aug 2009) opened by former SA State Premier
& Deputy Director of World Vision International Rev. The Hon Dr. Lyn Arnold
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
Kurrajong Art Exhibition
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2008
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
2007
Christmas Bon Bons Exhibition – Greenhill Galleries Adelaide (Summer 2007/08)
After Heysen: Exposing the Australian Landscape – Adelaide Festival Centre (10th Mar – 26th
Mar 2007)
Collaborative exhibition with Josh Pearce – Greenhill Galleries Adelaide (26th Jan – 20th Feb
2007) opened by SA State Premier The Hon. Mike Rann
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
SALA Art Market
2006
Fusions: Adelaide Environs Flora & Fauna (Collaborative exhibition with Wendy-Jane
Sheppard) – Adelaide Town Hall SALA Festival (4th – 20th Aug 2006)
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
Wildlife Art – Porter Street Wildlife Gallery
2005
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
Waterbirds Exhibition – Porter Street Wildlife Gallery
Exhibition of Past Entrants – RAAF Heritage Award
Art & Photographic Exhibition – Wooden Boat Festival (Goolwa SA)
2004
Adelaide Cathedral Art Show (St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
‘Subjectivity Uncorked’ – Fleurieu Peninsula Festival of Visual Arts
WEA Art Exhibition
Banque-Up Art Show
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
2003
Youth Arts Exhibition
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
2002
Youth Arts Exhibition
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
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2001
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
2000
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
1999
9” x 5” Illustrators Australia Exhibition
Significant Collections
South Australian Cricket Association
2014
“The Grand Arena”
Royal Australian Air Force Collection
2014
“Operation Falconer”
2012
“Pressure Point”
2010
“Nowhere to Hide”
2008
“Exercise Kangaroo II: Mirage vs Tomcat”
1999
“Malta: The Vampire Citadel”
1998
“Butterworth Sabres”
Botanic Gardens of South Australia (Adelaide) Collection
2007
“Symmetry”
Aviation Museum of South Australia Collection
2004
“Combined Strike”
Noteworthy Illustration Projects
2007
Book Cover Illustration: Key to Rondo - Omnibus Books
2006
International Training Manual Illustrations - DECS Publishing
2006
Book Cover Illustration: The Apocalypse Show - Digital Print Australia
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2002
Book Cover Illustration: All this is so - Wakefield Press
2000
Children’s Book: A Horse and More - Axiom Publishing
1998
Book Cover Illustration: The Prophet - Axiom Publishing
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