Nick Howson

b. 1963

Painter and printmaker Nick Howson was born in the United Kingdom and arrived in Australia in 1969. He completed a Diploma of Fine Arts at Prahran College in 1986. Howson was a magazine illustrator for the Sunday Age between 1997 and 2001. Howson is a highly skilled painter, best known for his characteristic mosaic compositions. His unique technique of building softened layers of oil paint to form a patchwork of colours is vibrant and engaging, combining a naivety of style with sensitive attention to detail. Quintessentially Australian in feel, the artist renders cricket pitches, rooftops, freeways and houses in almost abstract, allegorical arrangements, evocative of ancient mosaics and magnificent medieval stained glass.

Nick Howson has completed commissions for the Australian Open Tennis Poster, Melbourne; a mural for the National Gallery of Australia restaurant, Canberra; a mural for the Prahran Market, Melbourne and a significant mural at the Richmond Railway Station, Melbourne. His work is represented in collections around Australia including Artbank, Sydney; the City of Whitehorse Art Collection, VIC; Crown Casino, Melbourne; the Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD; the Horsham Regional Art Gallery, VIC; Parliament House, Canberra and the Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne.

PAST EXHIBITIONS

2024

2021

2019

2018

In Blog

‘Extinct’ – Artistic Impressions of Our Lost Wildlife

Image above: Sue Anderson  Christmas Island Pipistrelle  coloured pencil on paper  30.5 x 22 cm ‘Extinct’ is a recently published book by …

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Nick Howson – Melbourne bollards

Nick Howson, renowned for his murals on the streets of Richmond, has recently taken to spray painting the bollards in …

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Rodney Pople and Nick Howson – Finalists in the 2020 Gallipoli Art Prize

Rodney Pople, Hopes and Dreams (2019-20), oil on wood, diptych, 45 x 65cm Congratulations to artists Rodney Pople and Nick Howson who …

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Orest Keywan, Michael Snape and Ayako Saito – Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival

Image above: Orest Keywan  That Line 2023  steel  168 x 271 x 190cm   Congratulations to Orest Keywan, Michael Snape and …

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Andrew Antoniou – Finalist in the Kedumba Drawing Award 2024

Image above: Andrew Antoniou Weird & Wonderful  2024 charcoal on paper 82 x 88 cm Congratulations to Andrew Antoniou who …

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Christine Wrest-Smith – finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize 2024

Image above: Christine Wrest-Smith Portrait of Susan Johnson oil on linen 122 x 92cm Congratulations to Christine Wrest-Smith who has been …

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Deborah Williams, Martin King and Phillip Edwards – finalists in Pro Hart Outback Art Prize

Image above: Deborah Williams The air smells different 2023 aquatint intalgio 53×39.5cm Congratulations to Deborah Williams, Martin King and Phillip …

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Jenny Rodgerson & Peter Wegner – Finalists in The Lester Prize 2024

Above image details: Jenny Rodgerson Mum’s orange cardigan  2024 oil on linen 60 x 40 cm Congratulations to Jenny Rodgerson and …

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Holly Grace & Sarah Tomasetti – Finalists in the 2024 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize

Image above: Sarah Tomasetti From Balpatta X 2024 145 x 150 cm pigment oil and marble dust on fresco Congratulations to Holly …

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2024 Salon des Refusés at S.H. Ervin Gallery

Image above (left to right): Graeme Drendel Portrait of Rick  2024 oil on canvas 41 x 31 cm | Michelle Hiscock …

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Janet Luxton – Finalist in the Artists for Conservation International Exhibition

Image above:  Janet Luxton  Giant Australian Cuttlefish  2021  oil on canvas  120x160cm Congratulations to Janet Luxton who has had two …

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Wayne Eager – Interview in Studio National

Above image: Wayne Eager, Allegory I  2023 oil on linen 95 x 133 cm Wayne Eager was interviewed by Janet …

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Omina Art Prize Finalists – Kate Hudson, Martin King, Robin Stewart and Marina Strocchi

Image above: Marina Strocchi The vineyards of Madden’s Lane 2023 acrylic on linen 122 x 152 cm Congratulations to Kate …

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