Twenty Melbourne Painters Society: 107th Annual Exhibition

THE 107th ANNUAL EXHIBITION

CATALOGUE OF WORKS

VAS Gallery | The Victorian Artists Society

430 Albert St, East Melbourne

Greg Allen

Fiona Bilbrough

John Orlando Birt

Bill Caldwell

Nicolas Chen

Jennifer Fyfe

Ray Hewitt

Amanda Hyatt

Lee Machelak

Barbara McCallum

Paul McDonald Smith OAM

Ross Paterson

Herman Pekel

Clive Sinclair

Peter Smales

David Taylor

Maxwell Wilks

Joseph Zbukvic

2025 Guest Artists

Robert Kelly

Lisa Wang

(1998) (2016) (2019) (2004) (2024) (2019) (2016) (1992) (1994)

(1990) (1997)

(1998)

(2004)

(1998)

(1996) (1981) (1982) (2006)

Welcome to the 107th Annual Exhibition of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society

The original Melbourne Twenty were supporters and students of tonalist Max Meldrum Incensed at his defeat in the 1918 election for president of the Victorian Artists Society (VAS), they split from VAS and regrouped at his studio in Hardware Chambers, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Sharing similar ideas on painting, they formed their own exhibiting group, calling themselves ‘The Society of Twenty Melbourne Painters’ Less than a year later in 1919, the breakaway group held their first exhibition Later, the name of the society changed to ‘The Twenty Melbourne Painters Society’ Their determination and loyalty to the group ensured its success

Despite the emphasis on tradition, The Twenty Melbourne Painters Society (TMPS) is not aligned with strict adherence to a particular style of painting. The tradition is for quality. The group supports high standards of craftsmanship within the framework of representational tonal painting, requiring members to consolidate and improve the quality of traditional art, and promote fellowship among painters in the community

The TMPS has a 107 year history of exclusivity. Membership is by invitation only, after resignation or natural attrition Artists feel honoured to be invited, and members feel privileged to be part of a group so recognised within the Australian art world

In 2025, the TMPS return to VAS for their 107th Annual exhibition.

107th Annual Exhibition

VAS Gallery | The Victorian Artists Society

Standard Opening Hours

10am – 4pm Weekdays 11am – 4pm Weekends

Address

VAS Gallery 430 Albert St East Melbourne 3002

03 9962 1484

org au

info@vasgallery org au

To purchase works from this catalogue, click the small image of the painting to be directed to our online sales. Works can be collected from VAS Gallery from November 3 2025. rd Please contact info@vasgallery.org.au for any queries.

Greg Allen

Greg Allen is a highly regarded watercolour artist and teacher and has been a member of the TMPS since 1998. He has earned the reputation as one of Australia’s foremost watercolour artists.

Armed with a passion to draw and blessed with creative parents, Greg Allen began to develop a precocious understanding of design and materials, and the stuff of art, in his teenage years. Allen was born in Australia in 1958, established himself as a professional artist when he was 23 and had his first solo exhibition that same year.

In 1991 he won the Alice Bale Watercolor Prize. He has won the Camberwell Rotary Watercolor Prize twice, in 1990 and 2000, and has 24 other major First Prizes and Best of Show Awards for watercolor.

$1,400

Watercolour 23x34cm

$950

Watercolour 52x31cm

$2,200

Venetian market

Watercolour 76x88cm

$5,800

Australian artist

Watercolour 52x68cm

$3,950

On the Peninsula Watercolour 46x60cm Greg Allen

$2,800

Fiona Bilbrough

Fiona Bilbrough is a highly regarded artist and teacher who became a member of the TMPS in 2016. Her teaching and painting careers have merged since graduation from university. Fiona was awarded the Alice Bale Travelling Scholarship in 1995 and thus spent 18 months in Europe studying classical portraiture and still life, being greatly influenced by master painters of Britain and Spain. The rules of casual observation and order of visual importance play an integral role in her artistic process and teaching methods.

Fiona is the 2024 winner of the Camberwell Art Prize and received the Gordon Moffat Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Fiona has work in private collections in France, Italy, Spain, England, Scotland and throughout Australia.

$10,000

John Orlando Birt

John Orlando Birt has been a member of the TMPS since 2019. John first made his name as an industrial designer. This early interest, along with his developing artistic skills, motivated John to study design. Working as a senior designer in the automotive industry required John to travel extensively, with extended stays in Italy, the USA, England and Japan. Whilst travelling he used the opportunity to paint landscapes en plein air.

His background in drawing mechanised subjects has been a great asset to him, and his superior draughtsmanship can be seen in his watercolours. Yet it is perhaps his mastery of light that is the single most striking factor in his work – light portrayed, light reflected and light suffused. He enjoys the challenge of capturing its effects on his surroundings such as buildings, landscapes, water and the changing moods at different times of the day. As an artist John believes that painting on location ensures that he captures the essence of the subject, especially the subtleties and nuances of that time and place.

John is represented in both private and corporate collections in Japan, USA, England, Italy and Australia.

Salute, Venice

Watercolour 39x56cm

$2,250

Watercolour 39x19cm

$950

Watercolour 38x22cm

$1,100

Lunchtime shadows, Verona, Italy

$1,150

Evening reflections, Esk River, Tas

Watercolour 39x56cm

$2,250

Afternoon shadows, Razorback, Flinders Ranges

$1,875

$1,575

Bill Caldwell

Born in Geelong, Bill commenced his art training at the age of nine, by correspondence. He later studied advertising art at the Gordon Institute of Technology in Geelong and RMIT, and enjoyed a successful career in graphic design before turning to painting full time. Bill became a member of the TMPS in 2004.

Bill works in oil, watercolour and pastel. His work is represented in numerous international collections in England, USA, Greece and Japan, as well as throughout Australia.

He has lived and worked extensively in France and Greece. He currently teaches oil painting at the Peninsula Arts Society.

Bill Caldwell

Nicolas Chen

Nicolas Chen is a representational painter working in the tradition of tonal impressionism. He studied at the Florence Academy of Art and the Julian Ashton Art School, where he developed a strong foundation in classical drawing and painting. His work focuses on light, tone, and atmosphere, often drawing from everyday subjects with a quiet, observational approach.

Chen has received several notable awards, including the A.M.E Bale Travelling Scholarship in 2018 and the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 Rick Amor Self-Portrait Prize. In 2024, he was awarded the William Fletcher Foundation Development Grant. That same year, he was invited to join the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, a group dedicated to promoting excellence in representational art.

Chen’s paintings reflect a deep connection to tradition while remaining sensitive to the subtleties of contemporary life, combining technical skill with a refined sense of mood and presence.

Jennifer Fyfe

Jennifer Fyfe is a signatory member of VAS Gallery and has twice been awarded the prestigious VAS Artist of the Year Award. She works with the medium of oil and strives to reflect the atmosphere and energy of the moment or the character of her sitter.

Jennifer has been a member of the TMPS since 2019. She generally paints alla prima in the studio or en plein air. Recently she has been exploring portraiture on reclaimed materials and found objects. Her works have won numerous prizes including the Peoples Choice Award for the Rick Amor Self Portrait and are also held in both public and private collections across the world.

Winter berth

$1,500

Mining and metallurgy

Ray Hewitt

Ray Hewitt is an active VAS Fellow whose works are based on the tonal impressionism whilst bringing in elements of his own personality. Ray became a member of the TMPS in 2016.

Most of Ray’s paintings are done in front of the subject, direct from life where the ‘colour reads true’ . Ray has participated in various overseas painting trips and enjoys painting en plein air in order to capture the impression of a scene. Ray is a four time winner of the prestigious VAS Artist of the Year Award.

Afternoon

Amanda Hyatt

Amanda Hyatt is a tonal impressionist, alla prima watercolourist, who also paints in oils. She believes that light and atmosphere are the key essentials for her art and works instinctively and spontaneously making maximum impact with her deliberate brushstrokes. Her paintings embrace romance and employ the skills of creating tonal contrast, a sense of light and time, Impressionism and chiaroscuro.

She uses a reduced, more muted colour palette and makes tone ‘do all the work’ rather than letting ‘colour get all the glory’ . She believes in making every brushstroke matter as her rigorously inventive, expressionistic, style, pushes towards developing a new classical realism.

Amanda has been a member of the TMPS since 1992. She has exhibited in over 200 group exhibitions and 37 Solo exhibitions across the world.

Windy beach outing

Watercolour 15x21cm Amanda Hyatt

$650

$3,000

$1,500

Lee Machelak

Lee Machelak is a Fellow and Signatory member of the Victorian Artists Society and a member of the TMPS since 1994. Lee began painting in 1979 and studied with several teachers. From 1985 to 1988 she studied oil painting with David Moore. In 1993 Lee won the AME Bale Traveling Scholarship which enabled her to travel and live for a year in Europe. Whilst there she studied classical painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy. She also toured the major European galleries and worked for a month in the Prado Museum, Spain, as a copyist.

With 30 years experience as a teacher, both here and in North America, Lee teaches both weekly classes and workshops in portraiture and still life. She also demonstrates, judges and undertakes portrait commissions.

25.5x30.5cm

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

Oil 30.5x41cm

$1,200.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

Barbara McCallum

Barbara McCallum is a tonal realist that meticulously captures the interplay of light and shadow, infusing her artwork with a profound sense of volume and dimensionality.

Barbara became a member of the TMPS in 1990. She echoes the philosophy that a realist painters essence lies in comprehending the intricacies of light, dark, and colour in the visible world.

Her work is represented in private collections throughout Australia, Canada, England and New Zealand.

1,500

Paul McDonald Smith OAM

Paul McDonald Smith is a VAS Honorary Life Member, past president, VAS Fellow and Signatory. Paul aims to create an effect in paint that generates a strong visual sensation or ‘feeling’ of the subject. ‘To me painting is simply a means for expressing a response to the sense of sight and visual experiences...I have greatest respect for the ability to reflect the character of the subject with sympathy and completeness. ’

Paul became a member of the TMPS in 1997. He has over 100 awards for his paintings including the prestigious VAS Artist of the Year in 2001. Paul has served as Chairman for the A.M.E. Bale Scholarship 2003-14, and Victorian Representative for the Royal Art Society NSW.

1,200

Still life with eggs and flour

$1,100

$1,100

$4,000

The Grecian vase

$2,800

$1,600

Ross Paterson

Born in Victoria and with an inherent love of the Australian landscape, Ross commenced oil painting at about 16 years of age. Now, an internationally recognised watercolour artist, Ross has an inherent love of the Australian landscape and tends to primarily paint on location. Paul is represented in many public and Council gallery collections throughout Victoria, as well as internationally.

Ross became a member of the TMPS in 1998. A leading teacher of art, Ross is known for his popular and informative workshops and is often requested to travel throughout Australia and overseas to teach.

Oil 60x90cm

$4,300

Ross Paterson

Oil 60x90cm

$4,300

Watercolour 55x85cm

$3,800

$3,600

Boat harbour, Hyeres, France

Watercolour 27x37cm

$1,500

Oil 44x56cm

$1,300

Herman Pekel

Herman Pekel is a tonal realist who paints in impressionist style. He paints in oils, watercolour, and acrylic media. Herman has a passion for the ‘freedom of spontaneity’ and the rigour of speedily capturing the fleeting glow and illuminating impact of subtle shifts of light across the landscape.

Herman became a member of the TMPS in 2004. After holding his first solo exhibition in 1974, Herman went on to exhibit in over 90 solo and group exhibitions.

Herman likes to capture the ‘raw experience’ of painting en plein air and is predominantly known for his tonal street scenes and his sensitive portrayals of the Australian landscape.

$3,800

$3,900

$3,900

Clive Sinclair

Afternoon Horsham Watercolour 100x100cm

The apology

Watercolour 90x120cm

$3,000

Clive Sinclair

Watercolour 14x12cm

$600

Morning on the Hawkesbury

Clive Sinclair

Watercolour 15x24cm

$700

Quiet time of the day

Watercolour 12x12cm

$500

Stillness

Clive Sinclair $600

Watercolour 15x15cm

Peter Smales

Peter Smales was born in London in 1958 and arrived in Australia in 1966. He has held exhibitions annually since 1982, at Leveson Gallery in Carlton, Elgin Gallery, Victorian Artist’s Society and recently with Jenny Pihan Fine Art.

Drawing his inspiration from nature, Peter’s paintings are principally known for their rich colours, captured moods and impressionistic effects. As well as painting, Peter also teaches and holds classes from his home studio. He conducts workshops and painting demonstrations including paint-out days regularly. He judges many public art exhibitions and is a member of both the TMPS and VAS. His work is held in both private and corporate collections in Australia, England, America, Japan and Europe.

afternoon

$4,000

David Taylor

David Taylor is a watercolour artist, a Fellow member of VAS and is recognised internationally for his painting, teaching and services to the arts. David aims to capture the essence of his subject as a fleeting moment, adding a character of spontaneity to his works. In each of his exhibitions, David expresses his joy of working freely on location and his love of shape, light and colour.

David’s career expands many years of studying the art of watercolour painting whilst simultaneously teaching this medium to painters both in Australia and overseas since the late sixties. He is regularly involved in tutoring for the Australian and International Artist magazine. His achievements include over 100-awards in watercolour.

Time to reflect, Yarra Valley

$4,000

Afternoon light, Glenaladale

$4,000

Breezy moments, Corinella

$4,000

$2,000

$1,800

Morning walk, Jersey, Channel Islands

$800

Maxwell Wilks

Maxwell Wilks has been working full-time as a painter for many years, mostly woking in oils, however having more recently also experimented with pastels. In the tradition of Australian Landscape Artists, he usually paint directly from the subject, observing and simplifying the tonal shapes in order to ‘capture the mood and sensitivity of the subject’ .

Maxwell has had over 60 solo exhibitions since starting his art career. ‘I have chosen to follow the representational style of painting because of my strong emotional response to the effects of light, colour, atmosphere, and form. ’ Maxwell is represented in private, civic, and corporate collections in Australia and Overseas.

Joseph Zbukvic

Joseph Zbukvic is a watercolour artist whose works can be characterised by a sensitive, lyrical and atmospheric approach to capturing his subjects. ‘I try to achieve a balance of harmony between tonal values, design, colour and mood that will visually evoke emotion in the viewer’ . Most of Joseph's paintings are completed on location.

Joseph took up full time painting in 1978 and has had over 50 solo exhibitions since. He became a member of the TMPS in 2006 and has won over 200 major awards in the span of his 40 year career. He is represented by numerous galleries and his works are held in both private and municipal collections across the world.

The last effort

$5,000

$3,500

3,000

2,800

,200

2025 Guest Artists

Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly was born in 1988 in Melbourne, Australia. After completing his studies in Science at the University of Melbourne, he traveled to Italy to pursue the lifelong interest in the study of drawing and classical art. After 7 years abroad studying in Europe and teaching at The Florence Academy of Art, Robert returned to Australia to pursue his career and passion for the Australian art.

Robert is primarily dedicated to being a witness of natural light and the way it has of unveiling the particulars of human life. Observing subjects both inside the studio under more tranquil conditions as well as outside in the world of spontaneous effects and impressions. Robert strives to find a visual transmission of his thoughts and experience of life. His works are held in private collections in Australia as well as the United States, England, Italy and Japan.

Etching of Simone

Etching 10.5x8cm

$650.00

Morning haze near Taggerty

Oil 55x40cm

$2,100.00

Lisa Wang

Lisa Wang is a Melbourne based artist and art teacher, born in Dalian, China 1977. In early 2007, Lisa moved to Australia, and started working as a full-time artist. In 2009 she was commissioned by the Geelong Football Club to complete a series of major oil paintings to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the club.

Lisa paints in both oils and watercolour. She is a member of the VAS and the WSV, and the Vice President of the Watercolour Society of Victoria between 2019-2022. Lisa has held 8 solo exhibitions and many group exhibitions. She enjoys working with an extensive variety of subjects, but portraits and wildlife are her favourite. Her confident brush work, use of colour and ability to capture light making her paintings unique and highly sought after by art lovers and collectors worldwide.

‘Rome at his feet’

$4,800

‘Forever young’

$2,500