VIDA PEARSON - Artist/printmaker

Australian Wildlife Artist of the Year 2014 and 2015

Vida has been a professional artist/printmaker for over 30
years. Early in her career her favoured mediums were screen
printing and etching. However in the last 15 years she has
concentrated almost exclusively on linocuts. She has a very
distinctive style with her brightly coloured strongly designed
works – mostly hand coloured.
Upon joining the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia many
years ago her images naturally took a turn in that direction.
This enables her to combine a love of bird-watching,
photography and travel with her work. She spends approx. 2
months each year on various field trips within Australia and
overseas collecting material for new images. This has
involved many trips to outback Australia and inspirational
places such as Antarctica, Madagascar, Asia, Iceland and
most recently Africa. She finds observing all types of wildlife
exhilarating – even those she observes daily on her 5 acre
bush block. She hopes that by creating beautiful images of
the natural world she may cause people to reflect on how
amazing our planet is.
Her work can be found in galleries throughout Australia.
She has won over 150 prizes in art competitions and exhibits
regularly in group and solo shows.
She is featured in “Inspiration Wild: An Artistic Celebration of
Nature and Environment” published by the Wildlife Art Museum
of Australia Foundation.
Recently chosen as
Australian Wildlife Artist of the Year for both 2014 and 2015
by the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia
www.vidapearson.com

PRIZES

Wildlife Artist of the Year, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.2015
Wildlife Artist of the Year, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.2014
Selected for “Birds in Art” Woodson Art Museum, USA. 2014
Best Original Print, Golden Plains. 2014
Best Other Medium, Pyrenees Arts Council. 2014
Best Other Medium, Casterton.2014
Best other Medium Ballan. 2014
Clarice Beckett Award. Casterton.2014
Mixed Media Award. Casterton. 2014
Frank Hargrave Prize. Yea. 2014
Best Still Life. Yea.2013
Best Other Medium, San Remo. 2013
Best Other Medium, Golden Plains, 2013
Best Flora and Fauna, Warrnambool, 2013
Best Other Medium, Charlton. 2013
1st prize Printmaking, Birregurra Arts Festival. 2013
Best Artists Original Print, Wangaratta. 2013
Best Other Medium. Kerang. 2012
Best Other Medium, Deniliquin. 2012
Best Original Print, Birregurra Arts Festival. 2012
Bronze Award, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia. 2012
Best In Show, Leongatha. 2012
Best Flora and Fauna, Warrnambool. 2012
Business Award, Marysville. 2012
Best Original Print, Wangaratta. 2012
Best Wildlife, Wimmera. 2012
Best Other Medium, Golden Plains. 2012
People’s Choice Award, Golden Plains. 2012
Best In Show, Mansfield. 2012
1st Prize Painting, Ballan.2011
Best Other Medium. Golden Plains Art Award. 2011
Best Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show. 2011
Best Original Print, Birregurra Arts Festival. 2011
Best Original Print. Wangaratta. 2011
Best Other Medium, Wimmera. 2010
Best Other Medium, San Remo, 2009
Best other Medium, Bright, 2009
Presidents’ Award, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia, 2009
Painting Award, Buninyong Festival, 2008
Gold Medal Award for an Original Print, Wildlife Art @ Discovery, Canberra,2008
Best In Show, Wildlife Art @ Discovery, Canberra, 2008
Bronze Medal, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia. 2008
Best In Show, Bannockburn, 2008
Peoples Choice, Marysville. 2008
Best Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show,2007
Best Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 2006
Best Other Medium, Wimmera, 2006
Best Original Print, Ballan, 2005
Best Pastel, Deniliquin, 2005
Best Other Medium, Bright, 2005
Best Other Medium, Buninyong, 2004
Best Other Medium, Deniliquin, 2004
Best Original Print, Ballan, 2004
Best Other Medium, Balranald, 2004

Best Other Medium, Deniliquin, 2003
Best Other Medium, Bright, 2003
Best Other Medium, Wimmera, 2003
Best Work On Paper, Dubbo, 2003
Best Other Medium, Daylesford, 2003
Best Other Medium, Mildura, 2002
Best Other Medium, Charlton, 2002
Best Other Medium, Balranald, 2002
Best Other Medium, Grampians, 2001
Best Other Medium, Deniliquin, 2001
First Prize for an Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 2001
Best Other Medium, King Valley, 2001
Best Other Medium, Junee, 2000
Best Native Flora, Cootamundra, 2000
Original Print, First Prize, Royal Melbourne Show, 2000
Other Medium, Second Prize, Forster, N.S.W. 1999
Original Print, Second Prize, Royal Melbourne Show, 1999
Best Other Medium, Wimmera, 1999
Best Other Medium, King Valley, 1999
Best Other Medium, Peninsular Arts Society, 1998
Prize for an Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 1998
Best Other Medium, Warrnambool, 1998
Best Work in Show, Haddon Arts Festival, 1998
Best Work on Paper, Ivanhoe Girls Grammar, 1997
Acquisitive Award, Cootamundra, 1997
First Prize for an Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 1997
Best Original Print, Mudgee, N.S.W. 1997
Best Work on Paper, Oyster Bay, N.S.W. 1996
Best Australian Flora, Cootamundra, N.S.W. 1996
Best Still Life, Newcastle Society of the Arts, N.S.W. 1996
Best Original Print, Mudgee, 1996
Best Work on Paper, Oyster Bay, N.S.W. 1995
Best Original Print, Bacchus Marsh, 1995
Best Other Medium, Mt. View, 1995
Prize, Ivanhoe Girls Grammar, 1995
Best Flora Painting, Pt. Macquarie, N.S.W. 1995
Best Original Print, R.A.A.F. “Australia Remembers Exhibition” 1995
Acquisitive Prize, Melbourne High School, 1994
Best Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 1994
Best Original Print on an Australian Theme, Royal Melbourne Show, 1994
Best Other Medium, Pt. Fairy, 1993
Best Painting, Oyster Bay, N.S.W. 1993
Best Other Medium, Bacchus Marsh, 1993
Best Other Medium, Dobell Festival, Wangi, N.S.W. 1993
Best Other Medium, Woodend, 1992
Best Other Medium, Buninyong, 1992
Best Other Medium, Geelong, 1992
Best Other Medium, Beta Sigma Phi, 1992
First Prize, Zonta , Frankston, 1992
Encouragement Award, Singleton, N.S.W. 1992
Best Other Medium, Gunnedah, N.S.W. 1992
Best Other Medium, Forster, N.S.W. 1992
Best Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 1992
Best Other Medium, Pt. Fairy, 1991
Buninyong Shire Award, 1991
Best Other Medium, Cobram, 1991
Best Other Medium, Wangaratta, 1991
First Prize for an Original Print, Royal Melbourne Show, 1991
Best Pair, Bentleigh, 1991
Wendouree Award, Ballarat, 1991
Best Other Medium, Sorrento, 1990
Best Other Medium, Pt. Fairy, 1990
Best Other Medium, Benalla, 1990
Drawing Award, Numurkah, 1990
Special Award, Drysdale, 1990
Best Other Medium, Waverley, 1990
Best Other Medium, Elanora, 1990
Merit Award, Bacchus Marsh, 1990
Best Other Medium, Wimmera, 1990
Wendouree Award, Ballarat, 1990
Best Other Medium, Sorrento, 1989
Best Other Medium, Mornington, 1989
Best Other Medium, Keilor, 1989
Frank Sheehan Award, Buninyong, 1989
Best Other Medium, V.T.U. Credit Union,1989
Best Other Medium, Skipton, 1989
Best Drawing in the Show, Tyers, 1989
Best Other Medium, Melba, 1989
Painting of the Show, Ballarat, 1989
Best Other Medium, Birchip, 1989
Apex Art Award, Beaufort, 1989
Doyle, Cinque Award, Buninyong, 1988
Best Other Medium, Woodend, 1988
Finalist Camberwell Rotary Travel Grant, 1988
Acquisitive Award, Kyabram, 1988
Best Original Print, Chelsea, 1988
Best Miniature, Tallangatta, 1988
Best Painting under $250, Malvern, 1988
Sectrol Systems Award, Ballarat, 1988
Best Original Print, Yallourn, 1988
Best Other Medium, Skipton, 1988
Best Other Medium, Mt. View, 1988
Best Other Medium, Woodend, 1987
Best Work on Paper, Waverley, 1987
Finalist Camberwell Rotary Travel Grant, 1987
Special Prize for Painting on an Australian Theme, Royal Melbourne Show, 1987
Painting of the Show, Skipton, 1987
Acquisitive Prize, Kyabram, 1987
Adeney Family Award for Drawing, Lilydale, 1987
Second Prize for an original Print – Art/Craft Bi-centennial National Exhibition, 1987
Best Original Print on an Australian Theme, Royal Melbourne Show, 1986
Best Original Print, Hamilton, 1986
ACQUISITIONS
Mowbray College, Melton
Aquinas College, Ballarat
Methodists Ladies College, Kew
Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School
Ballarat and Clarendon College
Santa Maria College
Lithgow City Council
Wyong City Council
NAB Collection
Buningyong Shire
Moorabool Shire
Bright Art & Cultural Centre.
Art Bank
Pat Clark Collection, Iowa Falls, USA
Bright Art & Cultural Centre.
Goldfields Regional Art Gallery, Maryborough.
COMMISSIONS
Commissioned by the Bonython- Meadmore Gallery, Adelaide, to complete 200 silk-screen prints for the Sheraton
Hotel, Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Commissioned by Makers Mark Gallery, Melbourne, to complete 192 hand-coloured etchings for the Savoy Plaza
Hotel, Melbourne.
Label design for Waratah Cosmetics.
GRANTS
Received an Australia Council Grant as part of the Artists-in-schools programme. This involved 10 weeks at Alice
Springs High School as Artist-in-Residence – teaching students the different processes of printmaking and workshops
for the local community.
EXHIBITIONS
Norht of the Divide, Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough. 2015
Inspiration Wild – A Narrative.Wildlife Art Museum of Australia Foundation. Sofitel, Melbourne.2014
Birds In Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wisconsin.USA.2014
Flyway Print Exchange, Melbourne.2014
Nature – So Beautiful, Media House Gallery, The Age. Melbourne.2014
Finalist Wildlife Art @ Discovery. Canberra. 2014
Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach.2014
Wild4Art, Light Factory Gallery, Eltham. 2013
Framed Gallery, Darwin. 2013
Gold Museum, Ballarat, 2013
Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. 2013
Wild4Art, Town & Country Gallery, Yarragon. 2012
Cut and Formed On The Plains, Penola. 2012
Cut and Formed On The Plains, Yering Station - Victoria, Roma – Queensland, Purple Noon Gallery – NSW. 2011
Widl4Art, Pantechnicon Gallery, Daylesford. 2011
Wild4Art, The Light Factory Gallery, Eltham. 2011
Wild4Art, Melbourne Art Fair. 2010
Wild4Art, Town and Country Gallery, Yarragon, 2009
Wild Awards, Wildlife Art Society of Australasia. 2008
Print, Paper, Flower and Feather, Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, 2007
Finalist Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, 2006
Wild Awards, Wildlife Artists’ Society of Australasia, 2006
Flying Through Time, BOCA Gallery, Melbourne, 2005
Solo Exhibition, Parker Estate Winery, Coonawarra, 2005
Annual Wildlife Exhibition, Wiregrass Gallery at Monsalvat, 2005
Flowers, Feathers and Fantastical Birdscapes, Strickland Gallery, Hobart, 2005
St. Michael’s, Collins Street, Melbourne, 2003
Still Life Group Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Victoria, 2003
Solo Exhibition, Beauty & the Beach, Mornington, Victoria, 2003
Blooming Exhibition, Ballarat Regional Fine Art Gallery, 2003
Solo Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Victoria, 2002
Paper, Cloth and Clay, Willabaa, Ballarat, Victoria, 2002
Art At Ansonia, Ballarat, Victoria, 2002
Fremantle Print Award, Western Australia, 2002
McLaren Vale Award, South Australia, 2002
Beautiful Birds & Botany, Urrbrae House - Adelaide, 2001
Castlemaine State Festival, Buda Historic Homestead – Victoria, 2001
Adventures and Memories, Lake Russell Gallery, Coffs Harbor, N.S.W. 2001
Marked Impressions, Ararat Regional Gallery, Victoria, 2001
Indulgence – Olinda Art Gallery – Victoria, 2000
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1999
The Geese Are Getting Fat – Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1999
Artists Prints, Designs and Concepts – Gordon Edgerton Gallery, 1998
Russian Cultural Exchange Exhibition – St. Petersburg and Cheboksary, Russia, 1998
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1998
Blooming Exhibition –Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1998
Riddoch Gallery – South Australia, 1997
Millicent Regional Gallery – South Australia, 1997
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1997
Medika Gallery – South Australia, 1997
Olinda Gallery – Victoria, 1997
Blooming Exhibition –Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1997
Northern Exposure – Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1996
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1996
Medika Gallery – South Australia, 1996
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1995
Medika Gallery – South Australia, 1995
Elgin Print Gallery, Melbourne, 1994
Lombard Gallery – Adelaide, 1994
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1994
Olinda Gallery – Victoria, 1994
Beechworth Gallery – Victoria, 1993
Fine Art Living –Victoria, 1993
Horsham Regional Gallery – Victoria, 1993
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1993
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Victoria, 1992
Mulgrave Gallery – Victoria, 1992
8x8 Horsham Regional Gallery – Victoria, 1992
Framed Gallery – Darwin, 1991
Gray St. Gallery – Victoria, 1991
Seaview Gallery – Victoria, 1991
Seaview Gallery – Victoria, 1990
Australian Aspects – Melbourne, 1990
White Hill Gallery – Victoria, 1990
Olinda Gallery – Victoria, 1989
MacArthur Gallery – Victoria, 1989
White Hill Gallery – Victoria, 1989
Image, Defined and Altered – Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1988
Mulgrave Gallery – Victoria, 1987
Oldhouse Gallery – Ballarat, 1987
Framed Gallery – Darwin, 1987
Coolart Wetlands Wildlife Reserve – Victoria 1987
Oldhouse Gallery – Ballarat, 1986
Kintore Gallery – Adelaide, 1986
Stawell Arts Council – Victoria, 1986
The Barn – McLaren Vale, 1985
Tesshas Gallery – Adelaide, 1985
Ararat Community Gallery, Victoria1985
Salisbury Gallery, Adelaide 1985
Lombard Gallery, Adelaide 1985
Elkira Gallery – Alice Springs, 1985
Ten Student Artists – Adelaide Festival of the Arts, 1984
Two Graduate Printmakers – Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, 1984