Diana Watson
“What inspires me to make art? Everything. It is a complete way of life, never far from my thoughts. Seeing beauty all around me, colours, shapes, shadows, nature and the challenge of putting it on canvas.”
— Diana Watson
Diana Watson is a Sydney-based painter renowned for infusing warmth and intimacy into her still lifes, whether she is depicting florals, fruit or fabric in sumptuous oil on linen. Born and raised in Western Australia, she was mentored early on by Robert Juniper and later studied Fine Art and Commercial Art at Perth Technical College. It wasn’t until her fifties, after raising her three daughters, that she launched her artistic career full time, a creative turn that has since established her as one of Australia’s most beloved still-life artists.
Watson believes that the beauty she sees in the world, in colours, shapes, shadows and nature, shapes her work, not as a calculated exercise, but as a poetic act of translation. Although her brushwork and composition reveal the influence of the European Old Masters, particularly in their use of chiaroscuro and compositional harmony, her style is deeply personal. Watson channels mood and memory through her palette, her use of light, and the interplay of forms. Her paintings do more than depict; they whisper, evoke and linger beyond the frame.
About the Artist
-
Born in Perth. Lives and works in Sydney, NSW
-
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025
Marmalade Skies II, M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, June 2025
Marmalade Skies I, Gallery One, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, May 20252024
Pantere, Collaboration with M. Contemporary, August 2024
Artemis Garden, Linton and Kay Gallery, Subiaco, WA, March 20242023
Feminist Impression (Group Show), M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, October 2023
Artemis Garden, M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, September 2023
Mia Casa, Gallery One, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, June 20232022
Another Time Another Place, M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, April 20222021
The Anthophile Collective III, Linton and Kay Gallery, West Perth, WA, September 2021
The Anthophile Collective II, Gallery One, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2021
The Anthophile Collective I, M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, April 20212020
TBA, Gallery One, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2020
TBA Collective, M. Contemporary, Boundary Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, April 20202019
Foscari Chapter, Gallery One, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2019
Foscari Chapter II, Linton and Kay, Subiaco, WA, September–October 2019
Equus (Group Exhibition), Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney, NSW, May 20192018
Paradiso, Frances Keevil Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney, NSW2017
Ambrosia II, Linton and Kay Gallery, Perth, WA
Ambrosia, Otomys Gallery, Melbourne, VIC2016
Campo de Fiori, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Nova, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth, WA2015
The Gilded Owl, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney, NSW2014
New Work, Paintbox Fine Art, Canberra, ACT
Palimpsest, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth, WA
Pastorale, Pejean Gallery, Launceston, TAS2013
Rondo, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW
Hesperides Garden, Paintbox Fine Art, Canberra, ACT
Rondo, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA2012
Elysium, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
Elysium, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast, QLD
Elysium, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2011
Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2010
Spice of Life, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast, QLD
Creatures Great and Small, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
Empire, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2009
New Works, Gomboc Gallery, Perth, WA
Conversations in My Garden, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2007
Isola dei Fiori, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW
Halcyon, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
Aventine, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2006
Aquitania, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
Arcadia, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2005
Eden, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA
La Scala, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2004
Paparazzi Suite, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW
Divas, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2003
Songs of the Auvergne, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW
Generations, Fine Art Gallery, Napa Valley, CA, USA2001
Venezia, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW2000
Rondo, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW
Kelly Toepfer Art, Melbourne, VIC1999
Kelly Toepfer Art in Association with Grosvenor Place, Sydney, NSW
Catanach Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
New Works, Perth Galleries, Perth, WA1998
Perth Galleries, Perth, WA
Catanach Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
Kelly Toepfer Art – Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney, NSW1997
Venezia, Perth Galleries, Subiaco, WA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2014
Black and White Committee, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney, NSW2012
Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman, NSW2011
Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman, NSW2010
Autumn Exhibition, Bell Gallery, Berrima, NSW
Summer Exhibition, Bell Gallery, Berrima, NSW2009
Spring Exhibition, Bell Gallery, Berrima, NSW
New Work from the Stockroom, Richard Martin Art, Sydney, NSW2005
Biennale Internazionale dell’Arte Contemporanea, Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy
In and Out of the Garden, Summer Exhibition, Ivy Hill Gallery, Tathra, NSW2004
St. Hilda’s CEGS, Perth, WA
Recent Work, Gallows Gallery, Perth, WA2003
Mustard Festival, Napa Valley, CA, USA
Manhattan New York Art Expo, New York, NY, USA2001
Kelly Toepfer Art / Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington, NSW
Sky Garden Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
Second Prize, Palm Beach Art Prize, Sydney, NSW2000
Cossack Art Prize (By Invitation), Pilbara, WA
Olive Festival, New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, WA1999
Olive Festival, New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, WA
Francesco Cozza Permanent Art Show, Amin International, Italy
East West Divide, Kelly Toepfer Art, Grosvenor Place, Sydney, NSW
Presbyterian Ladies College Exhibition, Perth, WA1998
Presbyterian Ladies College Exhibition, Perth, WA1997
Mandorla Art Prize, Fremantle, WA
Salek Minc Jewish Centre Exhibition, Perth, WA
-
Collections
Diana Watson’s work is held in numerous private collections throughout Australia as well as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, USA, Germany, Italy, and The Palm, Dubai.Awards
2006
Recipient, National Gallery of Victoria’s Clemenger Contemporary Art Award (major national triennial award)1997
Finalist, Mandorla Art Prize, Fremantle, WA (award for religious-themed contemporary art)
122 x 122cm