This particular series is named "Antipodeans of Note" and focused on Australians from all different fields, from Science to Opera, who are not necessarily "celebrated" - but nevertheless outstanding in their area. Many of these individuals have achieved incredible things and contributed much to Australian society as we know it.
The project started in December 2006 when Susie and I met and worked on a book together featuring a series of Australian female identities such as Lucy Turnbull, for the UNICEF affiliated book “Women of the World”.
After the series for the book was finished, we continued to add to the images and it developed into the collection “Antipodeans of Note”, including such luminaries as Cate Blanchett, Edmund Capon, Margaret Olley, and Akira Isogawa. “I admire these Australians, their attitude toward life and the paths they have chosen to live and succeed. To me they represent Australians of strength and substance”, says Susie. “They are people we know that stand out, even if it's not necessarily obvious, or in the public eye”, says Darian. It’s certainly Diverse and we intend to showcase individuals from all fields and walks of life, in order to show the world what Australia is really about.
The exhibition launched in Sydney at the Egyptian Consulate in May and has since shown in Canberra in June, and opened at the Library of Alexandria, Egypt in October. There are further plans for it to travel to international consulates and state libraries within Australia. The work has been published in 3 books and catalogues, and was shortlisted for Australia's biggest portrait prize, Head On, two years running.
Prints are available as well as postcards for 13.00 for a pack of 10, inclusive of post within Australia.
Click on the images for ENLARGED view. Enjoy!
Cate Blanchett, actress
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Cate Blanchett is an actress who has reached true superstar status internationally. Studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, she graduated in 1992 and went on to star in acclaimed roles in films such as Elizabeth, Lord of the Rings, and Babel. She has won numerous acting awards for her work including SAGs, BAFTAs and Golden Globes, but it was for her role as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator that she won her first Academy
Award for best supporting actress. Currently she is the artistic director of The Sydney Theatre Company along with her husband, Andrew Upton.
Andrew "ET" Ettinghausen, Sports legend and TV presenter
Born 1965 in Sutherland, New South Wales, Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league player legend. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Known for his deceptive pace, good hands and ability to score tries, ‘ET’ as he was known, represented both New South Wales and Australia. After his retirement from league in 2000, Ettingshausen went on to host and produce his own fishing television show titled ‘Escape with ET’ , but not before the notorious locker room scandal resulted in a full frontal shot of his foofoo being published in a magazine (of which the result was a law suit win in his favour, and the cementing of his celebrity status forever).
Akira Isogawa, celebrated fashion designer, and Christiane Lehmann, stylist and artistNB This image was censored from the Sydney Egyptian Consulate exhibition for being too "provocative," however the same week it became a semi-finalist in the Head On Portrait Prize, one of 145 out of 2500 entries, and the biggest prize of it's genre in Australia.
Akira is one of Australia’s most prominent contemporary fashion designers. He came to prominence in 1996 as the star of Australian Fashion Week, sending his models down the runway in only red socks, causing a sensation and establishing his reputation. This type of elegant quirkiness has become a trademark of the label. He is one of the few Australian designers to show his clothing in Paris.
Often referred to in the press as his “muse” it is well known that Christiane has worked closely with Akira for over a decade on shaping collections and developing parades with significant infkluence. This title is often to her chagrin, as she is a talented artist in her own right.
As well as commercial success, Isogawa's designs have been exhibited in a number of major Australian galleries, most notably an exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, where the fashion collection replicating in life size the dressed paper dolls of Christiane’s art was shown.
He has had a longstanding relationship with Sydney Dance Company.as a costume designer, and recently collaborated with Qantas, to develop luxurious new accessories for the airline. In 2005 he was honoured with a commemorative Australian postage stamp.
Sir Gustav Nossel, Ground-breaking immunologist
Sir Gustav Nossal, AC, CBE, FRS, FAA was born 1931, and is an Australian research biologist. He is known for his groundbreaking work in understanding the immune system, particularly antibody formation. He has written five books and 530 scientific articles on this and related fields. In 1965, at the age of 35, Nossal became director of Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, a position that he kept until 1996. In parallel, he was Professor of Medical Biology at Melbourne University. Apart from overseeing several science related organisations, He has been Chairman of the committee overseeing the World Health Organization's Vaccines and Biologicals Program (1993-2002). He was named Australian of the Year for 2000.
Judy Dowling, Sheep and Cattle Grazer Judy is from generations of family that have worked the land in times of great prosperity to the most devastating droughts. This portrait was taken on their property “Milo” that has had years and years of virtually no rain, but still she remains in the hope that the rain will come. Every year from the beginning of time, she has had a stall at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and sells the most beautiful pure wool sheep skin coats. What she represents is a woman of true strength and spirit that works the land and is part of our Australian heritage and Identity.
Michael Jefferies, Personal Trainer
Leon and John Fink, Hospitality Entrepreneurs
Tim Brooke-Hunt, Head of childrens programming at ABC Television
Brian and Fay McGuigan, Wine-makers and Export innovators
Going back to 1869 , The McGuigan family have played a legendary and major role in the Australian wine industry. As Managing Director of the Wyndham Estate Group, Brian McGuigan built one of the most successful wine companies ever, in Australia.
Now as Managing Director of McGuigan Simeon Wines Limited, he has been at the forefront of the Australian wine industry for more than 35 years.
They are the wine industry’s most versatile and well-known figures, utilising skills as winemakers, viticulturists, marketers and communications specialists to take their wines all over Australia and around the world.
As one of the pioneers of wine export, Fay McGuigan has been hailed as an ambassador for Australian wine in international markets. Her involvement in the export industry has earned her awards around the world, such as the NSW Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, and in 1999, Fay was honoured with an Australian Export Heroes Award by the Australian Institute of Export. She has also served on the committee of the Prime Ministers Supermarkets to Asia council, chaired by Prime Minister John Howard.
Cheryl Barker and Peter Coleman-Wright, Opera Singers, Sydney Opera Company
Cheryl and Peter, a married couple, have had stellar operatic careers spanning the globe. They lived in London for over 10 years and performed throughout Europe now having returned to Australia to live, they continue to work with the Australian Opera and travel constantly with a very demanding schedule. Their rider always has plastic glasses.
Justice Michael Kirby, High Court JudgeMichael Donald Kirby, born 1939, is a Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian legal system.
From 1983-84, he was a judge in the Federal Court of Australia and the youngest man appointed to the federal judiciary, before an appointment as President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, a superior court in that state's legal system. He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in February 1996.
A staunch supporter of the arts, He has served on many other boards and committees, notably he is Patron of the Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) and many other bodies. He has also long spoken out in support of gay rights.
In 2002, Liberal senator Bill Heffernan used parliamentary privilege to accuse Kirby of misusing government resources to solicit underage male prostitutes. However, the evidence Heffernan produced to support this claim was swiftly discovered to be a forgery, and Heffernan apologised for these allegations.
Kirby promptly responded: "I accept Senator Heffernan's apology and reach out my hand in a spirit of reconciliation. I hope my ordeal will show the wrongs that hate of homosexuals can lead to.”
To me, he’s a modern hero and totally deserved all his awards and more - he received Australia's highest civil honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1991 and in the same year was awarded the Human Rights Medal. He is also a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
Stephen Page, Dancer and Choreographer, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Stephen Page is the first choreographer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent to have achieved major national and international recognition. Born 1965 in Brisbane, he is an Indigenous Australian descended from the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe. He is the Artistic Director of the Bangarra Dance Theatre. He has choreographed for the Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Atlanta Olympic Games, 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was artistic director of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts 2004. He was the recipient of an Australian Dance Award for outstanding choreographic achievement in 1997 and the Helpmann Award in 2000. In 2008 Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year.
Pete Versus Toby, Fashion Design Collective
Interesting story about this portrait - it may or may not be obvious that the guy in the white tee was added in afterwards. What happened was this, apparently they had an argument and this dude stormed off in a huff, leaving the other 3 to sit for the portrait, as everything had been organised it went ahead as planned without him. Later on he did his own separate shoot (standing, no less!) when it suited him, and with much difficulty and hours of work I rejoined him with his colleagues. I refused to do do this on principal, feeling first and foremost that the shot of the three alone was beautiful with fab composition and was fine as it was, secondly because it should be a lesson about being professional and not behaving like a Diva, thirdly because I didn't feel I should be forced to do a lot of work because of what had happened which was nothing to do with me. Like a perfumed steamroller, such was the nature of our collaborative relationship that I ended up doing it anyway. I didn't agree with it and still don't. I was never happy with the result, and I think the discord permeates the portrait. After working on this project I can see that the camera truly does capture the subject's soul. If they are not happy it shows and will always be a terrible shoot with bad results. To me it's not convincing, but like a funny typo, it stays.
Professor Ian Fraser, immunologist specialising in Cervical Cancer vaccineA professor in Reproductive Medicine Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ian Frazer was born 1953 and is is an Australian immunologist, best known for his work on the development of a cervical cancer vaccine. He trained as a physician, specialising in immunology Edinburgh University, Scotland. He emigrated to Melbourne in 1980 to research viral immunology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and moved to Queensland in 1985 where he currently heads the University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine. In 2005 Frazer and his research groups undertook clinical study of a vaccine against human papillomavirus, named Gardisil, which was 100% effective in preventing common cervical cancers caused by the virus. In Apart from awards such as the William B. Coley Award and the Florey Medal, in 2006 he was named Australian of the Year.
Tony "Harro" Harrington, award-winning extreme sports photographer, and Fabienne Phillips, interior stylist
Monique Dewey, Gilder and RestorerMonique Dewey is one of few expert gilders and restorers in the country. The proprieter of Gowrie Galleries, she specialises in rare maps and prints, as well as offering specialist framing, guilding and restoring for museum quality pieces and collections.
Sarah Laws, Cattle Grazer
Akira Isogawa, celebrated fashion designer, and Christiane Lehmann, stylist and artist
NB This image replaced the original portrait near the top which was censored from the Sydney Egyptian Consulate exhibition only.
Bob Oatley, wine entrepreneur, and Mark "Macca" Richards, Superyacht champion skipper
The family history of the Oatleys goes back to almost the beginning of European settlement of Australia, as evidenced by the name carried by the Sydney suburb of Oatley. He has run New Guinea's biggest coffee export operation. He founded and grew Rosemount Wines into the largest winery and export businesses in the country. He owns a whole island, Hamilton to be precise. Oatley has not only made his mark nationally and internationally but has also raised Australia’s profile and boosted its prosperity, and this in turn has made him Australia's 10th richest man, with a personal fortune estimated at $1 billion. He has a passion for Superyachts such as his 60-footer Wild Oats, on which he was photographed with America’s Cup sailor and world match racing champion Mark Richards, who has steered the big boat through several cup wins such as the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race ( 3 consecutive years), and the Hamilton Island Regatta.
Justin Miller, CEO of Sotheby's, Celebrity Auctioneer, Author
Chairman and Senior Auctioneer of Sotheby’s Australia since 1998, he is a specialist in 19th and 20th century Australian Paintings and early Australian Colonial furniture. He is a member of the President’s Council Art Gallery of NSW; Governor of the Taronga Zoo Foundation; member of the Sydney Theatre Company board; sponsor of the Salvation Army Education Foundation , and widely recognised as Australia’s leading benefit auctioneer, supporting dozens of organisations He is also co-author of The D R Sheumack Collection: Eighty Years of Australian Paintings.
Val Jellay, Actress and AuthorVal Jellay, born 1927, is an Australian actress whose career in show business began in vaudeville. She performed in Europe and worked with a host of personalities including Laurel & Hardy. She later moved into radio, film and is arguably the first woman to appear on Australian television.
Most famous for her role in The Flying Doctors, (together with her husband Maurie Fields) and Connie O'Rourke in Neighbours. Val has also appeared in many classic Australian TV series, including; Cop Shop, Blue Heelers, Prisoner, and The Sullivans. She has also authored a number of books such as " So You Want To Be In Showbusiness " (2007)
Wal Merriman, Prize-winning Sheep farmer
One of the best known Merino sheep breeders in Australia, Wal Merriman is a seventh generation sheep farmer. His father was knighted for the services to the Australian economy via his advances with the production of wool. Wal farms over 200,000 sheep. His sheep dominate the market place in price and volume of production. This portrait was taken in the sheering shed late afternoon on his property ‘Beverly’ in Boorowa NSW.
Vanessa Wagner, Entertainer and Activist
The epitome of modern Australienne, Vanessa Wagner is a character created by actor Tobin Saunders. An over-the-top swingin' seventies housewife with a very liberal outlook, Vanessa made her debut at Sydney's legendary ""Jamie and "Jamie & Vanessa's Wine Bar" before finding notoriety in several successful stage shows such as "Vanessa's History of Dance" with her very own dance troupe, Crystal Stepz. A little Mildred Roper, a generous sprinkle of Kath 'n' Kim, and a whole lotta lovin' as well, the outspoken and opinionated Vanessa has found national fame not only as the postergirl for Ozemail and Snickers chocolate bars ("It's all about the nuts!"), but as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
Warren Fahey, Folklorist, Recording artist, Author, Entertainer
Don’t let his urbane Potts Point digs fool you - Warren Fahey is arguably our country’s expert authority on bush and folk songs, poetry and stories. He has performed all over the country, with his band. As a record producer Warren founded Larrikin records and put out over 500 albums before selling up to major label Festival Records. He has sung on more than 12 of his own LP’s. As an author he has written over a dozen books not to mention several anthologies and many articles. He has scripted and presented many programs for ABC radio as well as on TV.
He may be remembered in the future as Australia’s Premier collector and archivist of bush and folk songs, poetry and stories, performing an infinitely valuable historical role documenting our digger past, in a world obsessed with technology and the future.
William Yang, Photographer and Performer
He worked as a playwright from 1969 to 1974, and since then as a freelance photographer. His first solo exhibition in 1977, “Sydneyphiles”, caused a sensation because of its frank depiction of the Sydney gay and social scene. He has become well known for his style of writing anecdotes directly on the pieces.
He started publishing books of his work in 1984. In the mid–eighties, William Yang began to explore his Chinese heritage which had hitherto been lost to him by his complete assimilation into the Australian way of life. His photographic themes expanded to include landscapes and the Chinese in Australia. During this period he made visits to China.
He integrated his skills as a writer and a visual artist in 1989. He began to perform monologues with slide projection in the theatre. These slide shows were a form of performance theatre and have become his favourite way of showing his work, as well as making him celebrated.
“Sadness”, wove together two themes: the discovery of his Chinese heritage, and the rituals of dying and death in Sydney. The piece has become hugely successful and toured nationally and internationally as has all his subsequent pieces. William has done seven full length monologues in all, including “Shadows”, “Blood links”, and “Objects For Meditation”.
In addition to his famed monologues, William Yang has presented over twenty individual exhibitions across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.
Sheridan Kennedy and Stephan Elliot, Screen Writers, Producers and DirectorsBorn 1964 Sydney, Australia , Elliot is a multi-award winning Australian Film director and screenwriter. He began his career as an Assistant director working in the boom of Australian film industry of the 1980's. Many of his feature and short films have been selected to screen at Cannes Film Festival with "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" winning the Prix du public as well as an Academy Award for Best Costume, among numerous other accolades. Other screen-writing credits include "Frauds", and the Noel Coward play "Easy Virtue", with screen writer, director and producer Sheridan Jobbins (who is pictured here and in a solo portrait further below). His first two feature films, "Frauds" " Priscilla" along with his lesser known, shorter films "Fast" and "The Agreement" were produced by Rebel Penfold-Russell 's production company Latent Image Productions, under the direction of Sheridan.
Steve Ormandy, Designer, Dinosaur DesignsLouise Olsen, Stephen Ormandy and Liane Rossler met while studying drawing and painting at a Sydney art school in 1983. They formed the company Dinosaur Designs in 1985 and began selling handprinted fabrics and painted jewellery at Paddington Markets. The intuitive creativity that shapes their distinctive work in jewellery and homewares has also informed the development of their extraordinary company. Dinosaur Designs now stands as one of the most visible and successful design-based businesses in Australia, operating its own stores in Sydney, Melbourne and New York. They have forged an important place for themselves within Australian design history, not only through their longevity and popularity but also through the distinctively Australian character of their work, with many of the colours and forms they use evoking the casual lifestyle and vibrant natural landscape of Australia.
Stuart Purves, Director of Australian Galleries, Art Philanthropist
Stuart is a passionate advocate of artists and the director of Australian Galleries which has been run by his family for over 40 years. He represents Garry Shead, Kerrie Lester, Jeffery Smart, and so many more significant Australian artists. In particular Stuart supports Arts Project Australia and collects the work of intellectually disabled artists, which he has built into a significant collection and exhibition “Pearls of Arts Project Australia”.
"This portrait was taken at the gallery on the same morning when Judith and Garry Shead arrived unexpectedly which opened up an opportunity to approach them regarding taking their portrait, it was a synchronistic lucky break", says Susie.
Tim Storrier, Celebrated Artist
Born 1949 in Sydney, Tim Storrier is a renowned and successful Australian artist painter who most poignantly conveys the unyielding essence and vast melancholy of the Australian landscape. At age nineteen, as the youngest artist ever to be awarded the Sulman Prize, he shot to instant art stardom. He has since established himself as one of Australia’s most respected and sought-after artists. He has won many other awards and prizes such as a 1994 AM for services to contemporary art . H e was honoured with a Doctorate of Arts by Charles Sturt University in 2003, and was appointed Trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales for over a decade. Since 1995 he has lived and worked in Bathurst, New South Wales. . The paper planes and fire featured in his work have inspired this portrait.
Tony White, Jeweller
Richard Allen, Painter
Robert Rosen, Society Photographer
Robert has been snapping (and sometimes getting snapped at by) society, be it high or low, for over 30 years in London, Melbourne in Sydney. There's no-one he hasn't known, and partied with, from Marianne Faithfull to Boy George. In 2000 Roslyn Oxley Gallery held a major retrospective of 20 years of his photos, and he has published 2 volumes of his work "Siblings" (1996) and "Snap!" (2000). Always up for a good time with or without camera in tow, he's legendary for his fabulous soirees such as the annual "White Party." Currently he is preparing his 30th anniversary retrospective for 2010. It goes without saying it will be a hell of a party!
Rowena Danziger, ex head mistress of Ascham School, PBL Chairman
Mrs Rowena Danziger was the headmistress of Ascham School from 1973 – 2003. Ascham school was established in 1886 by Miss Marie Wallis, as a private day and boarding school for girls, in a Terrace house in Darling Point, New South Wales. The school was named after Roger Ascham, a tutor to Queen Elizabeth I. The school adopted the 'Dalton Plan' as its method of teaching in 1922. Ms Danziger had a reputation for ruling students and wayward parents alike with an iron fist. It’s said that nothing happened in that school that she did not know about, to the smallest detail.
Sharon Carlton, Radio Producer and Writer
Sheridan Kennedy, Writer Producer and Director
Sheridan Jobbins is a Sydney-based screenwriter, as well as a third generation Australian film maker. During her career she has worked as a journalist and film producer as well as a television presenter (Good Morning Australia, Simon Townsend's Wonder World!, amongst many). She was credited by Guinness World Records as being the world's youngest television host for presenting a cooking program for two years. This record stood until 2006.
In the 1980’s she worked with well-known journalist/producerAmanda Keller, to produce music videos for legendary Australian bands including Mental As Anything, Mondo Rock, and Cold Chisel. She has also produced and directed several award winning short films.
From 1993 until 2000 she was a Director of Latent Image Productions which produced multi award winning feature films, such as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. which is of course, exactly the film, that as writer and director, that Oscar winner Stephan Elliott is world famous for (see other portrait above of them both).
Peter Evans, Chef and Hospitality Entrepreneur, with Astrid Chili and IndiaPeter owns famed Hugos restaurants and bars in Bondi and Darlinghurst, as well as having a TV show and publishing several cook books.
Philip Adams, Radio Broadcaster, Film Producer, Advertising genius, Author and political commentator
Phillip has been a journalist with The Australian Newspaper since the early 1960’s. He made his initial fortune in advertising developing successful campaigns we are all familiar with such as "Slip, Slop, Slap" (who could forget that one?). He has written many books and sold over 1 million copies in Australia alone. Known as "The Godfather of the Australian Film Industry" he has been behind box office hits such as "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie", "Don's Party", "The getting of Wisdom", and many more. He played a key role in the revival of Australia's film industry during a slump.
Phillip has been a presenter on ‘Late Night Live’ on ACB Radio National for over 15 years. Amongst the many awards and prizes he has recieved have been an AM in 1987 and an AO in 1992. He is also a collector of rare Roman, Egyptian and Greek artifacts.
Naguib Kanawati, Professor of Egyptology at Maquarie University
Naguib Kanawati is an Egyptian Australian Egyptologist and Professor of Egyptology at Macquarie University in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was instrumental in the formation of the Rundle Foundation for Egyptian Archaeology in the late 1970s and was the founder, in 1989, of the Australian Centre for Egyptology, which coordinates all Australian excavations in Egypt with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. .He is also the current Vice-President (and member for many years) of the Parish Council of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy Church of Australia and New Zealand. He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for services to Australian society and the humanities in the study of prehistory and archaeology. In 2007 he was awarded the Order of Australia for service to education through research and the promotion and advancement of the study of Egyptology, and to the community.
Professor Warren Sommerville, Curator of Bathurst Gemstone and Fossil Museum
The Somerville Collection is his lifetime work and features some of the finest and rarest examples of minerals and fossils in the world. The collection includes 2,000 year old garnets, rainbow-coloured fluorites from China, as well as diamonds, rubies, emeralds and features a fossil collection in amber, fossil dinosaur eggs and Australia’s only complete T rex skeleton, that he is photographed with, in this portrait.
Regina Sutton, State Librarian and CEO of NSW State Library
In 2006 Regina was the first non-librarian in 70 years to be appointed State Librarian and Chief Executive of the Library of New South Wales . Her previous background involved having spent 25 years in various leadership roles for a variety of blue-chip corporations inthe United States and in Asia. These included General Motors, Kodak,Telstra and IBM. We were honoured that Regina agreed to launch our exhibition opening at the Egyptian Consulate on May 02, 2008.
Molly Meldrum, TV Presenter, Music Producer and Entrepreneur
Ian "Molly" Meldrum is an Australian music critic, journalist,and musical entrepreneur, best known as presenter of TV pop show Countdown, which made him a star recognised for his trademark Akubra hat. During the Beatles' first tour of Australia in 1964, He was captured by TV climbing atop the bonnet of their car. Soon after he was hanging out at a
top Melbourne recording studio While he learned production and engineering techniques. Meldrum soon was in a position to make overnight hits, and was the key factor in determining the direction of popular music for decades. Molly has recieved the Order of Australia Medal, and The ARIAs Special Achievement Award. He is also an amateur Egyptologist.
His influence on pop music during the 1980’s has inspired this portrait.
Nell Schofield, Writer, Actress, TV and Radio presenter, Environmental Activist
Nell Schofield is a film reviewer for Channel Nine's SUNDAY program. She also hosts a weekly show presenting independent movies on the subscription television channel Showtime, and writes a weekly film column called Reel Classics for Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun.
After starring in Bruce Beresford's cult classic Puberty Blues, Nell studied acting at NIDA and graduated alongside Baz Luhrmann with whom she and six other students created the original stage version of Strictly Ballroom.
Moving into television, Nell worked as a presenter with the ABC TV's arts show Review, and with CNN's programs Hot Spots and The Art Club.
She has worked extensively in television, radio and print media as well as hosting live events like DFactory — the Powerhouse Museum's monthly design forum. Her dulcet tones can also be heard on the popular ABC TV show Media Watch.
Nicole Bonython, Stylist and Senior Fashion Editor of Madison Magazine
Nicole has been a fashion editor on many influential Australian fashion publications as well as behind styling looks and image changes for celebrities like pop star Kylie Minogue.
Nicole Kidman, Actress and Singer
One of Australia’s most celebrated exports, Nicole Kidman is an actress and occasional singer. She has performed many critically acclaimed roles in movies such as To Die For, Moulin Rouge, and The Hours. In 2003, Kidman received a Star on Hollywood the Walk of Fame and In 2006, she became the highest paid actress in the film industry. In the same year, Kidman was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. She has won two Golden Globes and numerous other awards including an Oscar nomination. For portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours, prosthetics applied to her nose made her face almost unrecognizable, and for this role she became the first Australian actress to win an Academy Award.
Paul Bangay, Celebrity Gardener and Landscape Designer
Margaret Fink, Film Producer
Margaret Olley, Legendary Australian Painter
Born 1923 in Lismore, NSW, Margaret Olley is an Australian painter. Her work concentrates on still life. She has held more than 60 solo exhibitions. She was the subject of William Dobell's Archibald Prize-winning painting in 1948. In 1997 a major retrospective of her work was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.In 2006 Olley was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia, for her commitment to art and philanthropy - she has donated works to the Art Gallery of New South Wales including more than 130 works worth several million dollars.She has received more than 15 prizes and awards besides this including 3 honorary doctorates and Life Governor Art Gallery of NSW.
Margo Montgomery, Interior designer and Decorator
Mary Shackman, Textile Designer and Artist
Mary Shackman is a noted Australian textile designer and artist. For over forty years Shackman's textile designs have been used by some of Australia's key fashion designers.
She began designing and screenprinting textiles in 1965. While still a student, Shackman co-founded a design studio named 'Mary and Vicki' with a friend. They designed hand painted and printed yardage for clothing and furnishings which they sold to department stores, fashion designers and boutiques.
In 1972 she began her own wholesale business, hand painting fabrics for Australian fashion labels. She established 'Mary Shackman Australia Pty Ltd' in 1975, specialising in hand painted and printed designs for her own ranges.
For the last 15 years Shackman has concentrated on painting, and well known for her consistency and discipline, has had a huge number of group and solo exhibitions. Shackman is equally interesting for the way she has moved broadly across the fashion and social spectrum working as an artist, textile designer; modelling , and mentoring young designers and involving herself in charity fundraising events. It's interesting to watch her in action, wherever she goes out, people of all ages flock to her like moths to a flame for a little bit of "The Shack".
Michael Hutchence, Rock Star
Michael Hutchence was the charismatic original lead singer of the Australian band INXS, an Australian rock and new wave group. The band was formed in 1977 in Sydney, completing 10 group albums, and for Michael, one posthumous solo album. While one of few Australian acts to obtain American chart success, over a twenty year career they only achieved 12 hit singles, but still remain the best selling Australian artists of all time. The original photo was taken in Paris by Susie less than 2 weeks before he died in 1997 (since so many people ask about the provenance), then I took it from there and did my thing making it edgy and rock. You can see the original on Susie's website.
Lisa McGuigan, Prize-winning Wine-Maker and entrepreneurLisa McGuigan is the fourth generation of one of the Hunter Valley's most famous winemaking families. Lisa made a career in hospitality before turning her attention to wine. For 10 years, Lisa worked in hotels and restaurants across Australia, training as a chef and in hotel management.
Lisa later spent time appointed to the McGuigan Wines Board of Directors, and helped guide the company through crucial growth phases.
But this did not satisfy her ambitions, and having identified a niche in the market for a well-designed, boutique brand wine, she developed her own label Tempus Two, winning a design award for creating the first moulded metal bottle label in the world. Working from her garage, Lisa built a small unknown label from a standing start to a very successful brand. Apart from the wine genius in her genes, Lisa’s individual and very contemporary personal style have likewise inspired this portrait of bold red splashes and feisty attitude.
Louise Olsen, Designer, Dinosaur Designs
Along with partners Liane Rossler and Steve Ormandy, Louise is one of the proprietors of well-known Australian company Dinosaur Designs, which has been in business for over 20 years. Famous for their unique jewelry and homewares cast in resin, it is a now iconic Australian design brand, with the team recently opening their first international store in Manhattan (not that New York should be confused with America.) The portraits’ deliciously romantic leaves and butterflies come from an antique tea tray belonging to Darian's grandmother and worked perfectly with the dreamy Camilla Frank Kaftan. It was published in the UNIFEM photography book "Women of the World".
Lucy Turnbull, ex Lord Mayor of Sydney, Author, Businesswoman
Lucy Turnbull is an Australian politician and former Lord Mayor of Sydney and is the wife of Federal Member for Wentworth and Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull. Lucy Turnbull held the position of Lord Mayor until early 2004.She is a director of Turnbull & Partners Pty. Ltd, an investment company, and a director of Melbourne IT Limited. She sits as a chair on many boards, ranging business, political and charity, and is also a member of the advisory board of the National Portrait Gallery.
Luke Sciberras, Artist
Luke is a landscape painter in the classic Australian style remniscent of Drysdale, Strachan, and Olsen's lineage. He exhibits with perstigious Gallery Tim Olsen along with several other impoirtant Australian artists. His father is renowned artist Tim Storrier, also featured in the exhibition, as well as married to another subject, artist Gria Shead.
Maggie Alderson, Journalist and best-selling novelist
Maggie Alderson is an author and journalist. She writes for the Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald specialising in fashion, a publication for which she covers the fashion shows in Milan and Paris twice a year. Weekly she writes a very amusing column for The Good Weekend on her various fashion dilemmas du jour. As an accomplished editor, She has worked on nine magazines - editing four of them, including British ELLE . Her fiction novels, Pants on Fire and Mad About the Boy, were bestsellers in Australia and the UK. Other novels she has published over the last decade include Handbags and Gladrags and Cents and Sensibility. As well as this she has published non-fiction books such as Shoe Money, Handbag Heaven and Gravity Sucks. I’ve met her twice. She always seems to be wearing funny little hats (and more often than not, Leopard skin.)
Catriona Hughes, Film Producer and chief Executive of the Australian Film Commission
Ken Cowley, CEO of R.M. Williams and former Rupert Murdoch Lieutenant
A very successful businessman, Kenneth Cowley has seved as chairman of several newspaper publishers, most famously Rupert Murdoch's News Limited as well as a board member of the Commonwealth Bank, negating the that old chestnut joke "How do you make a small fortune? Give the Commonwealth Bank a large fortune and ask them to invest it!"He proved it wrong and has recieved an Order of Australia along the way for his efforts. He is currently CEO of the intrinsic and iconic Australian clothing brand R.M. Williams, incorporating the magazine ''Hoofs and Horns," and he's pictured with the famous boots here at the Adelaide factory, where every scrap is still made by hand on the site.
Kerry Lester, Painter
As well as working as a sometime painting lecturer at various institutions, kerry has held 25 solo exhibitions of her paintings and drawings, and partaken of hundreds of group shows. She has been hung in the prestigious Archibald Prize 16 times but has never won. She is in the stable of Stuart Purve's Australian Galleries along with many other important Australian artists. Once she told me that she worked in a factory making aerosol cans, but I think she was having me on, like the time that she told me she was never entering the Archibald ever again. The former probably not true, the latter DEFINITELY not true!
Lewis Morley, Photographer and Artist
In the 1960’s Lewis set up Lewis Morley Studios in London, and during that time he took the first published photographs of Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Michael Caine, Susannah York, Joe Orton and Charlotte Rampling - but his most famous work is his internationally known portrait of Christine Keeler, apparently nude, sitting backwards in a designer chair, just after the Profumo affair had broken. It remains one of the iconic images of the 20th Century, perfectly capturing the mood of a time, a moment that was a turning point in politics, fashion, media exploitation.
Lewis emigrated to Australia in 1971, where he worked in Ben Eriksson studios in Sydney and his commercial work flourished in magazines like Belle, Pol and Dolly until 1987.
In 1989 the National Portrait Gallery in London created an exhibition and catalogue Lewis Morley : Photographer of the Sixties, which toured the United Kingdom.
"It was at a retrospective of his work at the Art Gallery of NSW in 2006 where I met Lewis and I was so inspired by him and his work that I just had to ask if I could take his portrait", says Susie.
Liane Rossler, Director of Dinosaur Designs Along with partners Louise Olsen and Steve Ormandy, Liane is one of the proprietors of well-known Australian company Dinosaur Designs, which has been in business for over 20 years. Famous for their unique jewelry and homewares cast in resin, it is a now iconic Australian design brand, with the team recently opening their first international store in Manhattan (not that New York should be confused with America.) "The portraits’ bold blobs are inspired by the vibrant designs Dinosaur is famous for, " says Darian. In 2007 it was exhibited at the Australian Centre of Photography Head On portrait prize and was published in the UNIFEM photography book "Women of the World".
John Olsen, legendary painterJohn Olsen, born 1928 in Newcastle, New South Wales, is a renowned Australian artist. Olsen's primary subject is landscape, though he has been labeled as abstract. Olsen's work has been marked by a deep engagement with the Australian landscape, and he has travelled widely and lived for long periods in different parts of the country.Today he lives near Bowral, New South Wales.He has served on the boards of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Art Gallery.He won the Wynne Prize in 1969 and also 1985, and the 2005 Archibald Prize for a self portrait. In he was awarded an Order of Australia in 2001, and an OBE in 1977 for services to the Arts.
Jonothan Ward, designer for R.M. Williams and Couturier, and Anneliese Seubert, international model
Born and raised on mixed farming and grazing properties in the Tottenham district in central NSW, Jonathan began his career as a wool classer and later accepted a place at the Dress Design Studio at East Sydney Technical College.
Jonathan moved to New York where he undertook a further course at the world renowned Parson's College of Art Design, followed by a one year work experience with Yves Saint Laurent in New York. On returning to Australia he opened his own Couture business and designed garments for the rich and famous such as Elle McPherson, Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman. Jonathon became the Executive Designer in 2001 for the Iconic Australian brand R.M.Williams and he still designs Couture gowns for select clients for special occasions such as the Logie Awards.
Anneliese Seubert started her career as a finalist in the Dolly Covergirl competition and went on to win the Ford Supermodel competition in 1990. Almost immediately Anneliese began to appear in the world’s top Fashion Magazines including editions of Vogue and Marie Claire all over the world, to name just a few. Paris and New York quickly became combined home bases for Anneliese where she became Australia’s unofficial style ambassador.
Anneliese moved back to Australia to study Psychology in 2003 and now resides in Sydney.
Joseph Tawadros, Musician and Producer
Joseph is an Egyptian-Australian and is an internationally renowned Oud player, the instrument he holds in the portrait. Born in Cairo, he comes from a line of accomplished musicians.Joseph has released 4 albums of his music, Storyteller – Solo Oud ( 2004), Rouhani with Bobby Singh ( 2005), and Epiphany with James Tawadros & Ben Rodgers (2007). For Visions, with James Tawadros (2005), Joseph received an ARIA Award nomination for 'Best World Music Album', and his new album Angel has just been released. He won the prestigious Freedman Fellowship award for Classical music, and has recently participated in a string of national and international concerts; more recently completing a national tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Judit Shead, Sculptor
Known by her maiden name of Englert, Judit was an independantly successful Hungarian sculptor for many years. She met renowned Australian artist Gary Shead during a residency at the Karolyi Foundation, in Vence, Southern France. They spent a year in Budapest before returning to Australia and settling in Bundeena, NSW where she became the main supporter of his career and muse, many say sacrificing her previously successful career for his art stardom. This portrait was taken just a short time before she fell ill with Cancer and died within months afterwards. Since there has been an extensive retrospective staged of her work, both finished and in progress. "I designed the portraits of Gary and Judit to harmonise, representing the great love story they shared, so legendary in the Australian art world", says Darian.
Julie Gibbs, Executive publisher of Penguin Publishing Group
Jamie Gordon, Artist and Stylist
Originally born in Scotland in 1950, James currently lives and works in Sydney where he has held 15 solo exhibitions of his painting, drawing and collage work at important Galleries such as Tim Olsen Galleries. He is also Creative Director of the James Gordon Workshop, a leading events company that styles parties and events.
Jean Wright, Renowned Interiors stylist and Writer
Sprinkling her contemporary magic through tomes and homes, Jean Wright is the doyenne of magazine stylists. She is responsible for many of the sleekest, most upmarket pages in Belle magazine and other ACP titles and also contributes to the European editions of Elle Decoration. She has published a book "Places: Inside Australian Houses" with photographer Earl Carter.
Jenny Irwin, Costume Designer, Sydney Theatre Company
Jennifer has designed some of the most memorable costumes for Australian dance and theatre. She also created Cathy Freeman's outfit for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron and co-designed all the costumes for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony. Jennifer was awarded a Theatre Board grant to study scenic art with La Scala Opera in Milan, in 1984. As well as designing costumes for motion pictures The Matrix and Mission : Impossible, she has designed for dozens of productions by Graeme Murphy and Sydney Dance Company , as well as Stephen Page and the Bangarra Dance Theatre, and the Australian Ballet.
Jo Green, Writer
John Laws, Radio Superstar, Recording artist, Author
55 years of radio broadcasting, honoured twice by the Queen with an OBE and CBE. Philanthropic activities too numerous to mention, a love for works of art and sculpture, a collector of rare books and owner of a huge library. Shonky albums of trucking songs. Spokesperson for Valvoline. Golden tonsils. Kitty lover. Toothbrush spruiker. Pot stirrer.
Former Prime Minister John Howard says: “He is of course, a household name in Australia. His contribution to public debate and to the media in our country has been quite extraordinary. Nobody is more synonymous with talkback radio than John Laws. As someone who has appeared frequently on his programs, I’ve marvelled at his breadth of knowledge, his capacity to wrinkle answers out of you and his sheer energy and constant commitment to the cause of lively communication and interesting public debate.”
Garry Shead, ArtistBorn in Sydney, New South Wales, Garry Shead is Australian artist and filmmaker who He has shown in more than seventy group exhibitions and had over fifty solo exhibitions. He won the Archibald Prize in 1992 ,and won the Dobell Prize in 2004. Shead is represented in all state galleries, many regional galleries and numerous private and corporate collections, both nationally and internationally. During a residency at the Karolyi Foundation, in Vence in southern France he met Hungarian sculptor Judit Englert, and spent a year in Budapest with her before returning to Australia where she became his main supporter and muse, many say sacrificing her previously successful career for his art stardom. Early in his career he also worked for the ABC as an editor, cartoonist, filmmaker and scenic painter, which probably inspired him in the mid to late 1980’s to make numerous experimental film works. He was a friend of Brett Whiteley and participated in the famous Yellow House activities.
Geoffrey Clarke, Antiques and Collectibles expert, Owner of Country Trader
Giles Auty, Art Critic, Author and Artist
Giles Auty worked for eleven years in London as art critic for the Spectator. Regular readership surveys conducted by the paper had placed him consistently among its top list of columnists, however offered job of national art correspondent for the Australian Giles felt no reservations about moving down under, as in his own words “ I could argue my case convincingly in language ordinary intelligent Australians would understand”. Among the books he has written are ”The art of self-deception: An intelligible guide” and “John Llewelyn Jones: Australia's forgotten painter”. An artist in his own right, he has travelled with famous painters John Olsen and Tim Storrier around Australia on art expeditions.
Gria Shead, Artist
Guy and Helen Leach, Sport Star and Model, Entrepreneurs
Guy Leech is a former Australian Ironman champion. Guy has now retired from formal competition but in his prime, he was the seven-time winner of the Uncle Tobys Iron Man Series and two-time Coolangatta Gold Champion. Guy was once dubbed Australia's Fittest Athlete by the Australian Institute of Sport.
Guy and Helen run kayak and fitness sessions through his company, OzPaddle, who are one of Australia's most well-known paddling outfitters. Leech's other commitments include commentating for current Iron Man series and being the face of his own range of health and fitness products.
Danielle Wallace, Mens Fashion accessories designerDanielle graduated from the Whitehouse School of fashion design in 1992, and since has built an internationally successful business designing and manufacturing mens neckties, shirts and cufflinks. She sells to major department stores around the world such as Bergdorf Goodman, Selfridges, Bloomingdales and David Jones. Noted for her stylised, bold and quirky personal attire, her individual style shines through in her design work with vividly patterned quality silks bringing attention to her career as one of the worlds very few remaining (not to mention female) high end neckwear designers. Many famous and successful men have said, no other tie will do.
Darian Zam, Artist and Designer
Darian is an artist working primarily in painting and has exhibited his work for over 20 years in Australia and NZ. He is represented in the Powerhouse Museum’s Decorative Arts and Design Collection and archives, as well as and the Sydney MCA archives. For a decade he worked in the fashion industry as a print textile designer, whilst simultaneously maintaining a professional art career. This included exhibiting paintings as well as writing, critique, drawing, digital work,
designing and creative direction on a wide range of projects. "I always write about myself in the third person, it makes me sound legitimate", says Darian.
Jane-Maree Hurley, Producer, and Darren Gilshannen, Actor
Denise Drysdale, Television Personality, Comedian and singer
Denise Drysdale is an Australian television personality, comedian and singer with an incredibly long career spanning over 50 years. This includes appearances on many legendary TV shows, films, stage, and a Logie Award for most popular female Australian personality.
Edmund Capon, Director of Art Gallery of NSW, Chairman of Sydney FC
Dr Edmund Capon was born in 1940 in England. He has been awarded an AM, making him a Member of the Order of Australia , the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service, And also an OBE. He is a renowned art scholar specialising in Chinese art. He has been director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales since 1978.Under his direction the Art Gallery of NSW has become a major cultural institution within Sydney and is arguably the most attended gallery in Australia. As Chairman of football (soccer) club, Sydney FC, naturally soccer is one of Edmund’s two major passions, the other being giraffes.
Charlie Sheed, Artist
Chris Antico, Artist
Chris Mueller, Orthodontist
Chris Manfield, Celebrity Chef and Author
Christine Manfield is a highly regarded Australian chef, author, and food manufacturer. Since closing her legendary Paramount restaurant and store in 2000, she has relocated to London to open East@West in Covent Garden which has won many important awards. In 2007 she returned to Sydney and opened Universal Restaurant to instant critical acclaim. She has published four books, with her new book Fire due for release in 2008. A keen and curious traveller, Christine also hosts regular international gastronomic holidays for culinary groups. She has also released a range of spice-based gourmet pastes and condiments.
Cornelius Horgan, Interior Decorator
Cornelius originally studied Law in London and worked as a Civil Lawyer, and as a young man he started collecting antiques. At 21 he moved to Australia and his first job was to work for Leslie Walford, the renowned interior decorator, for a decade . After a few career changes he returned to the interiors fold and for the last 14 years he has been in partnership with Leslie , as ‘Walford and Horgan Interiors’, and thus Cornelius has decorated many houses of the rich and famous.
Angela Bell-McSweeney, Public Relations and Racing personality
Augusta Miller, Aspiring actress, Star in the making
Camilla Dehert, University Major Master of Physiology