Rodney Symmons - ARTIST
Rodney Symmons was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria in 1937. His career in pharmacy precluded him from painting fulltime, leaving only his spare time to pursue his art.
Rodney can be described as a traditional landscape painter and in his work the influences of the Heidelberg School, Lloyd Rees, J. Turner and Arthur Boyd can be seen. With his great attention to the effects of light on the landscape he manages to capture the essence of Australia.
Rodney has received over thirty-five major awards including the Victorian Artists’ Society Artist of the Year Award.
He is represented in permanent collections of the Bright Art Gallery, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Korumburra Art Gallery, Ringwood Council Collection and the Victorian Artists’ Society. Rodney’s oil and watercolour paintings are enjoyed in much private collection around the globe and can be publicly viewed at Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania and Parliament House, Canberra. The Trustees of the Exhibition Building Melbourne, Australia National Line and Art Bank have also purchase his paintings.
Rodney moved to Tasmania in 1987 with the intention to paint fulltime, however other business interests hindered this. Upon returning to Victoria in late 1997, Rodney is now pursuing his painting fulltime. He is a participating member of the Brushmen of the Bay, Victorian Artists’ Society, Peninsula Arts Society and Australian Guild of Realist Artists.
Awards
2003
Camberwell Rotary – Mayor of Boroondara’s Award
Drouin Art Show – Best in Show
San Remo-New Haven Art Show – Best in Show
Sorrento Rotary – Best Local Subject
2002
AGRA – Winner, Winter Exhibition
Altona Rotary – Best Watercolour
Balranald – Watercolour Award
Bentleigh Parade College – Best Watercolour
Brighton – Best Watercolour
Camberwell Rotary – Best Painting under $1250
Chelsea Rotary – Best Watercolour
Cobram Rotary – Best Watercolour
Derinya Art Exhibition – Best Watercolour
Dromana Rotary – Best Watercolour
Flinders Art Show – Best in Show
Ivanhoe Art Show – Best Watercolour
Knox City Art Show – Best Watercolour
Leopold – Best Watercolour
Marysville – Watercolour Award
Mildura Art Show – Best in Show
Rosebud Rotary – Best Watercolour
Sorrento Rotary – Best Watercolour
Victor Harbour –Purchase Award Watercolour
2001
Brighton Rotary – Best Watercolour
Dandenong Rotary – Best Seascape
Dromana Rotary – Best Watercolour
Flinders Art Show – Best Watercolour
King Valley – Best Watercolour
Rosebud Rotary – Best Painting
2000
Brighton Rotary – Best Melbourne Subject
Camberwell Rotary – Best Painting under $1250
Flinders Art Show – Best Watercolour
Hamilton Rotary – Best Watercolour
Sorrento Rotary – Best Local Painting
Victorian Artists’ Society – Undine Award
Wangaratta Rotary – Best Watercolour
1999
Brighton Rotary – Best Watercolour
Dromana Rotary – Best Watercolour
Mornington Yacht Club – Best Painting
Toorak College – Best Peninsula Scape
1998
King Valley – Purchase Award
Mornington Yacht Club – Best Painting
Peninsula Arts Society – Best Watercolour
Wangaratta Art Show – Grand Winner
1985
Bright Art Prize – Oil Prize
Cranbourne Rotary – Oil Prize
Croydon Rotary – Oil Prize
Korumburra Rotary – Oil Prize
Mornington Rotary – Oil Prize
1984
Corio Art Prize – Oil Prize
Ivanhoe Grammar School – Oil Prize
Sale, King & Heath Award – Oil Prize
Victor Harbour - Purchase Award
1983
Camberwell Rotary – Special Award
Ringwood Rotary – Oil Prize
St Albans Rotary – Oil Prize
Sunbury – Minature Award
Victorian Artists’ Society – Artist of the Year
Victorian Artists’ Society – John Heard Award
Victorian Artists’ Society – Allied Chemists Award
