Werner Filipich - FAIHA

Werner was born in Austria in 1943, migrated to Australia with his parents in 1950 and has been painting professionally for 30 years. Werner has always been keen to trace his family history and recently discovered his great, great grandfather was an art teacher in Austria, explaining Werner's early interest in drawing.

Werner is one of Australia's best traditional artist who, in the true tradition of the Heildeberg school of impressionist artists, packs up, " goes bush", sets up his easel and places the scenes before him straight to canvas. Werner says "these regular painting trips are food for my soul, they refresh my eye to the natural colours of nature and rekindle my enthusiasm and ability to capture the true colours of each season in their pure and unadulterated realistic form." Werner has spent most of his life in Australia and one could say his love for this country is imbued in his superb landscape paintings.

Apart from his traditional scenes around Sydney Harbour and the Australian countryside Werner has a developed a unique ability with figurative paintings. These works, depicting people at play around the beaches and countryside of our country,

are extremely popular and are sort out by serious collectors. The figure paintings were developed after completing a course with the Julian Ashton Art School and attending the Royal Art Society sketch club where artist speed sketch live models in various positions.

Werner has been the recipient of many awards during his painting career, he has exhibited in numerous one man and mixed exhibitions throughout Australia achieving great accolades and many sell outs. He is an exhibiting member of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales and has been elected an Associate Member. He has been named a Fellow of the Australian Institute of History and Arts, an award for achieving success without formal training. One of five artists selected, Werner represented NSW for five major works to tour Germany sponsored by Qantas,

The crisp, refreshing style Werner maintains is a delight to many international visitors, and as a result, paintings adorn the walls of homes, galleries and corporate offices in many countries. Werner and his works have been included in all five editions of Kevin Hill?s ?TOP TEN? Australian Artists books.