Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Incorporated

Chris McClelland: Exhibiting member. www.wildprints.com.au

Chris McClelland is famous for his unique, fine and intricate pencil drawings of African and Australian wildlife. He spends hours studying his subjects in their natural habitat, observing their movements, and noting the interactions between predator and prey. He uses sketches, photographs, video footage and his own well-honed powers of observation as reference to accurately portray the behaviour and anatomy of his animals. He draws them with such fine detail that each of his drawings can take up to 300 hours.
Chris is now receiving many awards in Australia for his extraordinary detailed wildlife drawings using of graphite and coloured pencils. The opening of the Chris McClelland Gallery at 84 Lachlan Street in Hay is attracting a large number of visitors to view his wonderful drawings and observe him drawing.

Marlene Millard: Exhibiting member. www.marls-art.com.au

Growing up a farmers’ daughter; Marlene Millard developed an eye for detail regarding animals and nature, along with an appreciation of our natural environment.
Enjoying a love of drawing since childhood, art has always been a passion. Marlene holds a Diploma in Complete Commercial Art & Graphic Design and has participated in many workshops to expand her skills. In recent years Marlene has won various awards, been featured in the Australian Artist Magazine and exhibited solely and with groups. Currently Marlene produces paintings for commissions, exhibitions and competitions; along with teaching drawing & pastels and working casual at Mi Art Gallery in Rockhampton.

Dianne Minnaar: Exhibiting member. www.minnaar.com.au

Brisbane-based painter, Dianne Minnaar, was born in South Africa. Her childhood holidays were spent in the African bush, where she learnt to appreciate Africa’s rich diversity of flora and fauna from a very young age. In 1982 she graduated in Graphic Fine Art in Cape Town. Her early career was as a calligrapher, author and book illustrator and her paintings have been featured in exhibitions since 1990.
Dianne's move to Australia in 2001 inspired her to begin exploring colour and subject matter in greater depth. The wide open spaces and harsh Australian sunlight brought a dynamic vibrancy into her work. Her Australian Flora and Fauna Series flora and fauna paintings won her many accolades. More recently, her work has focused on large, luminous compositions that are best described as spiritual interpretations of the Australian bush. In 2008 she was awarded an art commission by Wesley Mission, Brisbane, to complete a series of paintings for the entrance foyer of the new Wheller Gardens Park View retirement complex in Chermside, Brisbane. The project is her largest commission to date and the paintings are on permanent display and due for completion in 2010.

Pedro Mullins: Exhibiting member.

Barry Nelson: Exhibiting member.

Barry was born in London England. His elder sister taught him how to draw and paint in water colours and his father encouraged an appreciation and knowledge of flora and fauna. Most of his childhood weekends were spent visiting the countryside, zoos, museums, parks and gardens. Copies of National Geographic were always at hand.

Immigrating to Australia in 1981, he immediately took on the new challenge to learn about the fascinating animals, birds and plants in his new environment. Since retiring in 2002 Barry has renewed his interest in art and has received training in acrylic and pastels (now his preferred medium).

“I find it very satisfying to use my own photographs as a basis for many of my pictures and am pleased to accept commissions for wildlife or pet portraits”.