ARTIST BIO

Barbara McKenzie was born in England in 1938 and migrated with her parents to Australia at age 13. Although she enjoyed school generally, her favourite subject was always art. The interest was there from an early age but only to the extent of idle drawing and doodling. Her Father was a hobby artist and her love for art probably stemmed from him. However, raising four children and working did not leave much time for painting so this was put on hold for many years.

Six years ago Barbara retired from the workforce. The children were grown and had their own families, so she took up her art again. She started going to galleries and exhibitions with her (now) husband, and was fascinated by pastel paintings. She attended the Peninsula Arts Society at evening classes for about 18 months, under the expert tutelage of Jackie Long, and from there studied with Rosemary Todman-Parrant for a time, before learning portraiture from Agata Lelek. Currently she is attending lessons with Lyn Mellady.  Her love of the sea and sand dunes are the topic of many of her paintings, although she enjoys a wide variety of subjects.

Barbara exhibits regularly in Art shows in Victoria. She is a current member of The Peninsula Arts Society and The Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia. She is also a member of the "Studio 12" Art Group.  Recently she was awarded "Best Seascape for 2011"at the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia's Annual Exhibition, for her painting "Surfing the Rocks".

To date, Barbara has sold paintings at Korumburra, Bayside, Chelsea, Mornington, Flinders, Sorrento, Rosebud and other Art Shows, both under her present name and that of her previous signature of Barbara Shiel (she recently re-married). She has also done several commissions and sold privately.

A recent addiction for Barbara is painting in oils, which she is thoroughly enjoying, and she is now adding these to her portfolio.

Although a late starter, art has become Barbara's passion, and most of her days (whilst her husband is out  on the golf course) are spent either at her easel or visiting galleries, or out in the open air just looking for that perfect scene to paint or photograph.