In 1991 I returned to Walcha, on the ranges in northern NSW, after 5 years in Melbourne and several years in the UK. For the next 30 odd years I painted, farmed and taught.
Last year my wife and I moved to Daylesford, in the Macedon Ranges northwest of Melbourne, and I now make regular trips back to Walcha, painting in both places.
The country around Walcha, and especially on the farm, has really been at the core of what I have produced and shown since, although in the early days I was perhaps not so aware of it.
I have been asked if my paintings have changed since spending more time in Victoria. There are two answers to this question. On the one hand no, because the essence, structure, and nature of the landforms in Walcha have been pre-eminent in my imagination for most of my life.
On the other hand, there have been times when the ‘fact’ of that world has been overwhelming when living on the farm, and this has, to some degree dictated terms, often in directions that I have struggled with.
The ‘distant’ view, from down south, has allowed for a more pared down language, and I feel that in this body of work, I have been able to engage in a wider painterly language which has been to some degree a liberation.
The subject is the same.
Paintings evolves slowly.
I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which these works were made, the peoples of the Dja Dja Wurrung language group of the Kulin Nation, and the peoples of the Dunghutti/Danggati language group.
Ross Laurie, October 2025
Ross Laurie was born in Walcha in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Now spending his time between his family property outside Walcha, and Daylesford in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, he is known for his painterly interpretations of the outback landscape.
Laurie studied visual art at Sydney College of the Arts in 1979. In 1983 he travelled to London to do a foundation course at St Martin’s School of Art, followed by further studies at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic. His studies during this time were supplemented with travel throughout Europe before returning to Australia and completing a Bachelor of Art in Visual Art at Prahran College in Melbourne. In 1990 he returned to Walcha to paint, teach and live and work on the family farm. He regularly travels to outback locations. Recently he has visited Fowlers Gap, Arkaroola in South Australia and King Island in the Bass Strait, as well as teaching in Ross River and at Hale River Station in the Northern Territory.
Across his career, Ross Laurie’s paintings have been celebrated around Australia. He won the inaugural Norville Prize for Landscape Painting (1999), the COFA Print Award (2008), the Kings School Art Prize (2010) and the Paddington Art Prize (2015). He has been selected as a finalist in the Dobell and Wynne prizes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. His work has been selected for the Salon des Refusés at S. H. Ervin Gallery 10 times.
Laurie’s work can be found in numerous state and corporate collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artbank, New England Regional Art Museum, Tamworth Regional Gallery, The Laverty Collection Sydney, La Trobe University Melbourne, Macquarie Bank Collection and NRMA Sydney.
Ross Laurie
Lives and works in Walcha, NSW.
EDUCATION
1986
Painting, Prahan College, Melbourne
1985
Newcastle Polytechnic (Now Northumbria University), United Kingdom
1984
Foundation Course, St Martins School of Arts, London
1983
Mitchell College, Bathurst
1982
Visual Art, Sydney College of the Arts
COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Australia
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Artbank
Benalla Regional Gallery
Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery
The Laverty Collection
La Trobe University, Melbourne
Macquarie Group Collection
Maitland Regional Gallery
Newcastle Art Gallery
New England Regional Art Museum
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre
NRMA, Sydney
State Bank of Victoria
Tamworth City Art Gallery
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
'Moonlight-Daylight',King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2023
'Ross Laurie: Mountains to Sea',MAGMA Galleries, Melbourne
2022
'After Storms and Rain', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2020
'Dry at Walcha', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2018
'New Paintings and Works on Paper', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2016
'New Paintings and Works on Paper', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2014
'New Painting', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2011
'Paintings and Works on Paper', Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
'Paintings', Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2010
'Paintings and Works on Paper', Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2009
Moree Plains Regional Gallery, New South Wales
2005
Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2005
'Wrestles with Landscape', New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
'Homegrown Wynne',New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
2021
'The Big Picture Show', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
'Gorge Country' New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
2019
'Inside/Outside' King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
'Abstract 19’ King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2018
'Salient', Australia Club, Melbourne
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
'Salient – the Western Front Centennial Commemoration', New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale; Bathurst Regional Art Gallery; Anzac Memorial Art Gallery; Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre; Tweed Regional Gallery
2017
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2016
'The Wynne Prize Exhibition', Art Gallery New South Wales
'Salon des Refusès', S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
'Paint my Place' Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery
2015
Winner, Paddington Art Prize
'The Piano has been Drinking [Not Me]', Maitland Regional Art Gallery
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2014
'Drawing out: Dobell Prize for Drawing', Art Gallery New South Wales
2013
'Walcha: City of Art', Walcha Gallery of Art
'Last but not Least', King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
'Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize', Parliament House, Sydney
'Packsaddle', New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2014
'In Two Art' S.H. Ervin Gallery, travelling
2012
'Not the Way Home: 13 Artists Paint the Desert', S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, and touring nationally
Melbourne Art Fair with Damien Minton Gallery and Artist Profile
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
'Big Picture Show' King Street on William, Sydney
'Landscape Show', Defiance Gallery, Sydney
'Five Bells', Damien Minton Gallery
'Dobell Prize for Drawing', Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney
2011
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
'Ross Laurie and David McBride Recent Works', Tamworth Regional Gallery, Dubbo Regional Gallery, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
'Works on Paper Award', Hazelhurst Regional Gallery
2010
'Dobell Prize for Drawing', Art Gallery New South Wales
Melbourne Art Fair with Damien Minton Gallery
2009
'Works on Paper Award', Hazelhurst Regional Gallery
'New England Views' New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
‘Same Place, Many Views’, Defiance Gallery, Sydney
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2008
Winner, COFA Print Award, Paddington Art Prize
'North South East West' Damien Minton Gallery
Melbourne Art Fair with Damien Minton Gallery
2007
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2006
'Salon des Refusès', S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
'Regional Encounters', Tamworth City Gallery, New South Wales
'Walcha – City of Art', Gallery Karlovy Vary, Ostrov, Czech Republic
'Same Place Different Views' Defiance Gallery, Sydney
2005
'The Year in Art', S.H. Ervin Gallery, New South Wales
'(Going) Out There', Ivan Dougherty Gallery, College of Fine Arts, University New South Wales
'Country Energy' Art Prize, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and New South Wales Parliament House
2004
'England Picture', New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
'Work on Paper Award', Hazelhurst Regional Gallery
2003
'Surface Memories', Tamworth City Gallery
'Country Energy Art Prize', New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
'Walcha – City of Art', New Contemporaries Gallery, Sydney
AWARDS AND PRIZES
2015
Winner, Paddington Art Prize
2010
Winner, Kings School Art Prize
2008
Winner, COFA Print Award, Paddington Art Prize
1999
Winner, Norvill Prize for Landscape Painting, Murrurundi
Ross Laurie's painting 'Long day blues - evening light' is featuring in Homegrown Wynne, a travelling exhibition of previous Wynne Prize winners.
The Wynne Prize is Australia's oldest art prize with the inaugural award being presented in 1897. It is now an annual competition of Australian landscape and figure painting, judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
In 2016 Ross Laurie's painting was a finalist in the Wynne Prize.
