Boranup
Gallery

ROB WELLINGTON – ARTIST STATEMENT

Rob was born in Blackburn, Victoria in early 1940, the second oldest of thirteen children.

Because of the economic constraints faced by his large family, Rob was forced to leave home and work mostly on farms in the bush and it was at this time he entertained himself at nights drawing, painting and sketching as he had done from his early childhood days.

Rob’s early influence was Sir Hans Heysen and he dreamed of capturing the landscape in a similar manner with the heavy use if strong light and bold colours.

Ever the adventurer and lover of colour, he was drawn to fossicking for opals and, although he experienced some success at exhibitions in Melbourne, Rob decided to settle in White Cliffs to paint and seek his fortune in opal mining.

Rob can be described as a true digger, as he dug out an extensive underground home, an opal mine as well as an art gallery. Anytime his wife needs another room or alcove they simply dig it out together.

Rob loves his lifestyle and the area in which he lives. He sees his art as his profession and his mining as a hobby. Every morning he spends four hours digging before commencing work (painting) and really, his mine is his gym as is witnessed by his fit and healthy appearance. Rob has an extensive range of paintings for sale at a gallery in Silverton, Boranup Gallery and in Broken Hill NSW. His paintings are included in many collections both here in Australia and overseas and are enjoyed and purchased by many avid art lovers.

Its true to say that this artist has achieved his childhood dreams, with his success as a landscape artist in the tradition of Heysen, his opal his lifestyle and mine.

Rob is happy to accept commissions!