Born: Amsterdam 1957.
Arrived Australia: 1960.
Brought up and educated in Tasmania.
Qualifications
Certificate of Woven Textiles, Hobart Technical College. 1981
Bachelor of Arts University of Tasmania. 1983
Bachelor of Theology, Melbourne College of Divinity.1991
M.A.Prelim. by thesis University of Melbourne 1992
(topic: The Iconography of the Antwerp Altarpiece in the National Gallery
of
Victoria)
M.A. Art History, 1997, Latrobe University, Melbourne.
(topic: The Architecture and Liturgical Layout of the Churches of the
Diocese of Wangaratta.)
Employment
Tutor in weaving for Adult Education Department Hobart. 1978-82
Tutor in Weaving, Tasmanian Art School. 1982.
Lecturer in Fine Art, Charles Sturt University, Albury Campus. 1984-87
Deacon assistant at Holy Trinity East Melbourne 1990
Assistant Priest Holy Trinity Cathedral Wangaratta 1991-93
Rector of the Parish of Rutherglen-Chiltern, Diocese of
Wangaratta.1993-1997
Currently Priest-in-charge, of St Stephen's Chapel, Hong Kong,
Chaplain St Stephen's College Stanley.
Exhibitions
Many group shows.
Solo exhibition, Beaver Galleries, Canberra. 1987
Collections
Albury Regional Art Gallery
Trinity College Melbourne Fine Art Collection
Many Private collections
Arts background
My main area of interest in the past was textiles, particularly embroidery
and weaving, though I have for years made and designed Church vestments.
I began making jewellery as a young person buying antique beads from shops
around Hobart. These I made into various items to sell to friends. I
also used to work for some of the antique shops in Hobart restringing
necklaces. It was not until I moved to Hong Kong that I was once again
able
to resume this interest, though now using real pearls and stones. Hong
Kong
is one of the great jewellery centres of the world. The three biggest
shows
in the world are Basel, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, so I am in a very
fortunate position. Also, from Hong Kong it is easy to get access to
China, Indonesia, Thailand and other places. These are ready sources of
raw
materials for my designs.
My design work shows many different influences; my upbringing in a Dutch
household in Australia accounts for my European and Australian
touches. The
Asian environment is also important : I particularly like Asian
traditional and tribal jewellery.
Another influence, in a reverse way, is the retail market for jewellery in
Australia. Most of the items are very boring designs and the range
available
to the public is extremely limited because buying is done through buying
groups and cooperatives, so that the stock in the shops is nearly all the
same. This does not give buyers much option in being able to express
their own style and personality in what they wear. What I try to do is
offer
a much more interesting and varied selection of goods. The items are all
individually made and much thought is given to texture and colour which in
the commercial jewellery market are not important considerations.
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| Amethyst leaves with silver spacers | Bright green aquamarines with silver beads | Baltic amber, calcite, citrine and silver | Tumbled citrine pebbles with fluted silver beads and large silver pendant |
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| Rutilated quartz with calcite, cornelian, citrine and silver beads | Azurite, sodalite, blue coral, iolite and silver | Large irregular faceted aquamarines with silver beads | Amethyst leaves with 6mm white pearls and 14k clasp |