About Vanessa

Vanessa is an accomplished Australian artist. She lives in Sydney, dividing her time between her May Street Studio in St. Peters - where she works along side other artists - and her sunny, more relaxed art studio at Patonga on the New South Wales, Central Coast. Her travels around the world and living on the Hawkesbury River waterways inspires her passion for the landscape, for self improvement and the challenges that arise daily in creating beautiful artwork.

Portfolio

Her striking portfolio ranges from landscapes inspired by water and travel experiences, through to stylish nude paintings, abstract art and Vanessa’s latest exciting innovation – works on metal (aluminium and stainless steel). This luminous new medium has attracted a great deal of interest, earning Vanessa a finalist’s place in the 2008 Paddington Art Prize and her work 'The Edge', work on aluminium was shortlisted for the Mount Eyre Vineyards Art Prize and just recently, July 2010 - a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize and in October the Gosford Art Prize. Her current landscape work on canvas called 'Reflections in a Quiet Place in Time' was a finalist in the prestigious Norville Art Prize 2010.

Vanessa’s evocative artwork can be found in collections, corporate and domestic, throughout Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, the USA and United Kingdom.

Exhibitions

A passion for art coupled with the need to express her creativity and explore different mediums has resulted in Vanessa producing six successful solo exhibitions at the Harris Courtin Gallery, many group shows over the years and is now represented in Nolan on Lovell Gallery in Katoomba and Mingarra Gallery on Phillip Island Victoria.

Teaching

Vanessa currently teaches drawing, painting and mixed media at the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre, Sydney, and for several years also taught at the Willoughby Workshop Art Centre, Sydney. Inspiring her on many levels, teaching allows Vanessa to expound on her passion for art, life and personal growth whilst bringing her the satisfaction of watching art awaken new worlds and perspectives within her students.

Giving Back

Like many artists, Vanessa likes to give something back to her local community and to those with whom she has a personal connection or association. Over the years she has donated many paintings for auction, to public schools, local youth group charities and major fundraising events such as schools for the disabled and more recently, the 40k Home Foundation for a school in India and a donation of a painting to the well respected charity Bear Cottage and a donation of a painting to Ubuntu-the art of giving Her stunning work attracts great interest and raises much needed funds for the worthy causes.

Achievements & Events

Over the last 10 years, Vanessa Ashcroft has accomplished many artistic milestones and achievements…

2011

Seoul, Korea Travelling Art Exhibition presented by Australian and Korean Government. 'Celebrating Mateship' between the two countries. One of 50 Australian and Korean Artists.
Finalist Cliftons International Art Prize
Shortlisted Mount Eyre Art Prize

2010

. 'Reflections in a Quiet Place in Time'-finalist Norville Art Prize

. 'The edge' work on metal - finalist in Mosman Art Prize

. Shortlisted for Mount Eyre Vineyard Art Prize

. 'From my Window Woolloomooloo Wharf' - finalist Gosford Art Prize

. 'The Edge' work on metal - finalist in Gosford Art Prize
2009

Living Australia exhibition in Seoul, Korea – one of only 6 renown, female Australian artists and 10 Korean artists presenting work by invitation from the Korean Women’s Art Society in Sydney (KWASS)
Introducing works on metal – luminous paintings on steel and aluminium
Sixth solo exhibition of abstract art and landscapes, Harris Courtin Gallery
May Street Studios Artists Open Day – a featured artist

2008