ABOUT THE ARTIST
Steve Hillier is a Gold Coast based Australian Citizen born in the UK, who works primarily in the fields of figure-painting and wild-life art, using oil paint with techniques drawn from traditional realism. Steve’s work, however, incorporates experimental ideas and surreal settings, which not only reveal the beauty and timeless elements of his images, but also make kthem stronger, more intense, new and possibly stranger. His art continues the conversation with the subject that compels the viewer to actually look.
Steve’s favorite subject matter is the female form, and preferably delivered with a a bit of symbolism and a tongue-in-cheek poke at society in general. There are often as many layers of meaning as there are of paint in his work, which I can attest, is many. Steve Hillier’s work is detailed, meticulous and fun – as for example, in the painting that recently took out the Ipswich Art Award prize for painting.Another branch of Steve’s art practice is his work featuring wildlife, and in particular, birds. His loving and painstaking approach is particularly effective when it comes to depicting birds and other animals. Steve was recently a finalist in the Holmes Art Prize, a prize for excellence in the realistic depiction of Australian birds.
You can get an idea about how Steve works his magic in the video segment produced by ‘Put Some Colour in your Life’, here.
Author: Susan Skuse 2/9/15
