Ross was born in Victoria, Australia and has been a dedicated artist since the age of
sixteen, when inspired by the works of artists such as Streeton, Heysen, Monet, Manet,
Rembrandt, Singer-Sargent and various other great landscape painters. His early art
training-[diploma] was completed at Caulfield Institute of Technology in Melbourne and
at teachers college in Hawthorn.
He has since that time, worked passionately 'en plein air”, as well as in the studio—for
many years part-time, and for the last 20 years as a full-time professional painter. In recent
years he has painted and taught in Italy as well as New Zealand and Australia. He has taken a
tour group in Tasmania through International Artist Magazine earlier this year.
As an experienced secondary art teacher for more than twenty years in Victorian schools,
he has utilised this valuable experience in tutoring adult art groups and art schools throughout
Australia and overseas. Ross is one of Australia's most experienced and sought-after tutors
in art, and is always in demand for his well structured, popular and informative workshops.
Although perhaps better known as a leading watercolourist, he is also well respected for his award
winning oil and pastel paintings - particularly in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2010 Ross was invited as a guest artist to exhibit works directly into the biennial Shanghai
Watercolour Exhibition - one of twenty artists worldwide to receive this honour. In 2011, following
a group exhibition in France, he was published as one of twenty-four prominent international
watercolourists in the french book: 'the Art of Watercolour'. [also released as a magazine worldwide]
Last year, 2010, saw the release of the watercolour dvd, 'Summer light in watercolour', produced by
the UK film company-APV Films. Ross is an invited member of the Australian Watercolour Institute,
and also, by invitation, a member of Twenty Melbourne Painters Society. Overall he has won 215
major art awards throughout Australia, including Camberwell [3 times winner of Aust. Landscape Award]
the Kenneth Jack Award [for watercolour]; many 'best in show'awards; the Victor Harbor Award;
as well as many other prominent awards in Melbourne-[St. Kevins, Mt. Waverley, Kingston] and also in Sydney.
“ During my lifetime in art, I have rarely deviated from my passion - to capture a moment
in creations mighty span of time; taking the essence of a concept in landscape, [or figurative]
in context with its mood and light, envisaging this and interpreting it with feeling and unity.
I tend to look for spatial shape, balance of tone, form and colour and then allow rhythm
and feeling to take over” - Ross Paterson