The Art of Nature
- Philip Davey

The richly illustrated new publication ‘The Art of Nature’ by Gavin Fry tells of the life and art of painter, ceramicist, draughtsman and printmaker, Philip Davey.

Australian Galleries is delighted to celebrate the launch of this book, alongside the accompanying survey exhibition of Philip Davey’s work presenting a comprehensive series of paintings and ceramics; both fresh from the artist’s studio as well as works spanning his prolific career.

Philip Davey elegantly interweaves concepts and physical elements from the works of Colonial artists into his own landscape paintings, which have been developed and refined throughout his many years as an en plein air painter. The sense of seeing a landscape for the first time, of experiencing its foreignness, its wild beauty and untamed majesty are tangible in his works. Abundant with exuberant colour and life, Davey’s works masterfully juxtapose images from historical to contemporary. 

“A quick scan of any of the hundreds of artists’ biographies in print will find a common thread in many, of a young person committed to the life of the artist from an early age. But this is not the journey of Philip Davey; not for a lack of interest in creating and making things, but simply due to an ingrained belief that “art was for other people”.

Things changed when Philip was encouraged by his wife to explore his innate interest in art, prompting him to embrace the notion that art was a valid pursuit. At 35 years of age, a chance meeting with a professional artist, and an invitation to join plein air excursions, gave Philip’s life new direction and he has become an accomplished and remarkably successful artist in many media over his second 35 years.” – excerpt from ‘Philip Davey – The Art of Nature’ by Gavin Fry, 2022