Susan Sutton
Australian Artist
Philosophy - Career - Curriculum Vitae
Susan Sutton is a painter of significantly detailed oil paintings on canvas which embody social observations and specific subjects along Victoria's Surf Coast.
There is particular emphasis on the region along the Great Ocean Road between Geelong and Lorne.
Susan's representational Surf Coast images have become well known and widely accepted in recent years as iconic paintings of living experiences around the southern beaches of Australia.
Regional and city images from central Geelong, and occasionally metropolitan Melbourne portray obviously different subjects, but nonetheless the same feeling of actually 'being there'.
Inspiration for my works is usually a response to personal involvement in an event or a situation.
I paint best what I know and understand in the region I have lived most of my life ... familiarity
and research for detail form the basis of my created images.
My paintings usually contain figures which I use to convey the social narrative, while the ambience and mood of the particular place or situation are conveyed through the effects of colour, light and atmosphere. All of these are extremely important components of my work.
Career History
Susan Sutton commenced work as a serious artist in the late 1990s following more than three decades of other career involvements.
Following secondary schooling, Susan's practical interest in general art began at the tertiary level in 1964 and by the end of 1967 she had completed Diploma of Art through The Gordon Institute Geelong and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [R.M.I.T.] , the Trained Secondary Teachers' Certificate [T.S.T.C. Art & Craft] through Melbourne Teachers' College, and also Fine Arts IT at Melbourne University.
For four years 1968 - 1971 incl. Susan taught art at Geelong High School, before establishing 'Pottage', a large Geelong based arts and crafts retailing business in 1972.
The close involvement in this and other family businesses continued well into 2003.
Although occasionally managing to keep in touch with her own artistic talents over nearly forty years, it actually wasn't until 2003 that Susan realised her long held ambition to pursue a career as a fulltime painter.
A very brief period of pastel work was the forerunner to her first significant artistic period of watercolour painting.
Her watercolours drew attention through early solo exhibitions and regional showings.
With the passing of time oils began to emerge as Susan's strongest expression and she is now recognised as a painter of significant images in this medium.
During the formative years from the late 1990s, painting trips to overseas destinations provided broad artistic experiences.
Considerable lengths of time were spent travelling, painting and studying in Italy, France, Austria, UK, Japan, USA and East Timor and provided the inspiration for numerous early solo exhibitions.
The development of serious artistic social observations came into prominence through personal involvements in East Timor.
In 2003 and 2004, Susan presented three lengthy voluntary teaching workshops in watercolour painting and print making to adult students at Arte Moris, East Timor's first free art school.
A highly regarded solo exhibition 'East Timor - A Visual Journey' was shown in Geelong in 2004.
In the years following she continued her involvements with the school and in 2007 instigated, co-ordinated and hosted a six week tuition project for three senior students at Geelong's Gordon Institute Art Department.
Apart from a number of public and private commissions, over two decades regular Solo Exhibitions have been presented in significant Victorian galleries, firstly at Qdos Arts Lorne and also the former Metropolis Gallery Geelong. In recent years there have been shows with Manyung Gallery Group. Throughout the disciplined preparation periods she enjoys researching, gathering ideas and working seriously in relative isolation to create the large body of work required for these anticipated showings.
Her work is mostly produced at her studio in Geelong West.
For many years popular images were reproduced as Art Cards, distributed Australia wide through Art Publishing Australia www.artpublishing.com.au while other images were self published.
Susan Sutton's paintings have been acquired for significant public collections including The Surf Coast Shire; Arte Moris Permanent Collection in East Timor; The Geelong Regional Gallery Permanent Collection; The Gordon Foundation Collection; The National Sports Museum / MCC Fine Arts Collection; National Library of Australia, Canberra; Epworth Hospital Collection, Richmond, Melbourne; The State Library of Victoria, Melbourne; and the new St.John of God Hospital in Geelong.
A very large number of works may be found in numerous private collections throughout Australia and overseas in England, Germany, Austria, Japan, USA, France, Hong Kong, China, Belgium, Sweden and East Timor.
Susan Sutton - 2025 - Curriculum Vitae
Diploma of Art - Gordon Institute Geelong and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [R M I T] 1967
Fine Arts [1T] Melbourne University 1967
Trained Secondary Teacher's Certificate [T S T C Art/Craft] Melbourne Teachers College 1967
Secondary School Art Teaching - four years Geelong 1968 - 1972
Art / Craft retailer - self-owned businesses in Geelong and Lorne 1972 until 2003
Commenced visual arts career 1997
Overseas painting expeditions and study from 1998 - Italy, France, Austria, UK, Japan, USA, East Timor.
Voluntary workshops [x3] presented to Arte Moris adult art students in East Timor, July and November 2003, also September 2004
Instigated/coordinated 6 week art project hosting three East Timor artists in Geelong at The Gordon Institute 2007
Gordon Foundation Art Collections & Exhibitions Committee - practising artist advisor [2006 - 2009incl.]
Long-time member of Geelong Art Society, also Victorian Artists Society [VAS Signatory Member]
Works represented in private and public collections in Australia and Internationally [England, Germany, Austria, Japan, USA, France,
Hong Kong, Belgium, Sweden, Middle East and East Timor]
Significant commissions / numerous paintings purchased for official presentations.
Art cards [reproduced art works] distributed Australia wide
2018 - Australian Artist - SUSAN SUTTON - the artist and her art - ISBN 978-0-6484344-0-5
Career book published by TREBLART - Biography and Works of Art - Author Marion Pescud - Adams Print, Geelong
Public/Major acquisitions and commissions
2025 National Sports Museum/MCC Fine Arts Collection at MCG - acquired three paintings - Melbourne, Victoria
2024 Mid North Coast Oral Surgery - MURAL - commissioned - Coffs Harbour, NSW
2024 Outdoor Café large scene for private dining room - commissioned - Mordialloc, Victoria
2024 Sorrento memories - Large scene for private home - commissioned - Sorrento, Victoria
2020 Triptych beach scene - MURAL - commissioned - Port Melbourne Beach St. Apartments
2019 Madman Entertainment Australia - commissioned - Torquay surfboat crew 1990s
2018 State Library, Melbourne, Victoria -'My sister's got a footy too'- [acquisition]
2018 Lorne Sports precinct [Historical works x 2] - Football Club, Lorne, Victoria [acquisitions]
2016 Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria - 'River reeds'- [acquisition]
2014 St.John of God Hospital Geelong - MURAL - 'Love and compassion' - 7.2 metres commissioned for main entrance foyer
2014 National Library of Australia, Canberra - portrait of author Jill Jolliffe [acquisition]
2014 AFL 'Footy Almanac 2014' painted design acquired for published book cover
2014 Lorne Sports precinct - Football Club, Lorne, Victoria - 'Tuesday night training'- [acquisition]
2012 National Sports Museum/MCC Fine Arts Collection at MCG - acquired two paintings - Melbourne, Victoria
2011 Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club commissioned researched painting [image for Lorne SLSC History Book wrap-around-cover]
2009 The Gordon Foundation Permanent Collection, Gordon Institute [TAFE] Geelong, Victoria [acquisition]
2008 The Geelong Regional Gallery, Permanent Collection, Geelong Victoria [acquisition]
2006 Christian College Geelong, Victoria - two paintings acquired
2004 Arte Moris Permanent Collection, Dili, East Timor [acquisition]
2001 Set of 8 watercolours painted and reproduced as Art Prints for Erskine House/Mantra, Lorne [acquisitions/commissions]
1998 Surfcoast Shire Permanent Collection, Victoria [acquisition]
Twenty solo exhibitions
2022 Lorne - a twenty year Retrospective - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2018 Susan Sutton - the artist and her art - oils - Metropolis Gallery, Geelong Victoria
2018 South Coast - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2016 Water and light - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2015 In landscape - oils - with Blake-Sutterby [watercolours] and Yokoyama [glass] - Metropolis Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2014 Otway collection - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2013 Recent works, Geelong, the Surfcoast and beyond - oils - Metropolis Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2012 Beach theatre - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2010 By day][by night - oils - Metropolis Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2010 Tides - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2008 Through Seasons - Geelong and the Surfcoast - oils - The Geelong Regional Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2008 Lorne, confronting traditional images - oils - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2006 Surfcoast reflections - oils & watercolours - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2004 East Timor, a visual journey - oils & watercolours - Shearers Arms Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2002 Palermo to Paris - watercolours - QDOS Arts, Lorne, Victoria
2001 Tokyo to Hagi - watercolours - Sartoma, Lorne, Victoria
2000 People and places - oils and watercolours - Wholefoods Cafe/Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
1999 Portraits - oils - Wholefoods Cafe/Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
1999 Paris to Provence - watercolours - Wholefoods Cafe/Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
Awards and Shortlisted Finalist selections
2025 - 2023 - 2022 George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Art Award finalist - East Melbourne, Victoria
2020 George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Art Award - Winner - East Melbourne, Victoria
2019 Gallipoli Art Prize - Sydney, NSW
2019 George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Art Award - East Melbourne, Victoria - Highly Commended
2019 Eastbourne Art Prize - East Melbourne, Victoria
2018 Kilgour Prize for figurative and portrait art - Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW
2018 Tattersalls Landscape Art Prize - Brisbane, Queensland
2018 Corangamarah Art Prize - Colac, Otways, Victoria
2017 Gallipoli Art Prize - Sydney, NSW
2017 Tattersalls Landscape Art Prize - Brisbane, Queensland
2017 Corangamarah Art Prize - Colac, Otways, Victoria
2016 Alice Bale National Awards - Oil/Acrylic - Melbourne, Victoria
2016 Tattersalls Landscape Art Prize - Brisbane, Queensland
2015 Gallipoli Art Prize / Centenary year - Sydney, NSW
2013 Borough of Queenscliff 150th Anniversary Art Award, Queenscliff, Victoria
2011 Alice Bale National Awards - Oil/Acrylic - Melbourne, Victoria
2007 Corangamarah Art Prize - Otways, Victoria
2006 Travel Scholarship Alice Bale National Awards - Melbourne, Victoria
2003 Travel Scholarship Alice Bale National Awards - Melbourne, Victoria
Shared exhibitions - by invitation
2025 - 2023 - 2022 George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Art Exhibitions - Mc Cubbin Gallery, East Melbourne
2022 Summer adventure - Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, Victoria
2020 George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Art exhibitions - McCubbin Gallery, East Melbourne, Victoria
2020 Marvellous Melbourne - Pan Pacific, South Wharf, Melbourne, Victoria
2020 Mela Cooke and Susan Sutton - Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, Victoria
2019 George Hicks Contemporary Art Exhibition - McCubbin Gallery, East Melbourne, Victoria
2019 Gallipoli Art exhibition - The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
2019 Eastbourne Art Prize and Exhibition - McCubbin Gallery, East Melbourne, Victoria
2019 Summer show at Manyung - Sorrento, Victoria
2018 Kilgour Prize exhibition for figurative and portrait art - Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW
2018 Landscape Art Prize exhibition - Tattersalls' Club and Riverside Centre, Brisbane, Queensland
2018 Corangamarah exhibition - Red Rock Regional Gallery, Colac, Otways, Victoria
2018 The Art of Sport III - Mildura
2018 The Art of Sport - Station Gallery, Willaura, Victoria
2018 You kick like a girl [AFLW season] - Red Gallery, North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
2017 All things botanical - Red Rock Regional Gallery, Colac, Otways, Victoria
2017 Landscape Art Prize exhibition - Tattersalls' Club and Riverside Centre, Brisbane, Queensland.
2017 Country Artists - Cato Gallery, VAS, East Melbourne
2017 The Art of Football II - The Art Vault, Mildura, Victoria
2017 Corangamarah exhibition - Red Rock Regional Gallery, Colac, Otways, Victoria
2017 The Art of Sport - Red Rock Regional Gallery, Colac, Otways, Victoria
2017 Gallipoli Art exhibition - Gallipoli Club, Sydney, NSW
2017 Marvellous Melbourne exhibition - Oz-link at Hilton South Wharf, Melbourne, Victoria
2016 Alice Bale Awards exhibition - Glen Eira Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
2016 Landscape Art Prize exhibition - Tattersalls Club and Riverside Centre, Brisbane, Queensland
2016 The Art of Football - The Art Vault, Mildura, Victoria … then at Berri, South Australia
2015 Gallipoli Art exhibition - Gallipoli Club, Sydney, NSW
2014 Idols, Icons and Legends - The Artists Garden Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
2013 Back to basics - The Artists Garden Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
2013 Borough of Queenscliff 150th Anniversary exhibition, Queenscliff, Victoria
2013 Faces of diversity - National Wool Museum Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2013 Arte'Dall' Australia - Turin, Italy
2011 Coast Watch - The Paintbox Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2011 Kicking goals - Oz-Link at Hilton South Wharf, Melbourne, Victoria
2011 Alice Bale Awards exhibition - Glen Eira Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
2010 Justice and football - The Artists Garden Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
2009 Geelong Regional Artists Exhibition - The Gordon Foundation, The Gordon Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2009 Art Melbourne - with Metropolis Gallery at Exhibition Building, Carlton, Melbourne
2007 The Great Ocean Road 75th Anniversary - National Wool Museum Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2006 Little Malop Nudes - Little Malop Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2005 Coastal themes - Russell Davis' Arcade Gallery, Queenscliff, Victoria
2005 The Geelong experience - Little Malop Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
2005 Inspired by the sea - Sue Ernst Gallery, Lorne, Victoria
2004 Six Geelong Regional Artists - The Gordon Foundation, Gordon Gallery, Geelong Victoria
Early Career Awards - Achievements
2013 First Prize Oils, Lorne Art Easter Show
2008 Wynne Tyquin Recognition Award/Assistance to Lions Art Shows - Guest artist Lorne Art Show - People's Choice Award Geelong College Art Show. Victorian Artists Society 'Signatory member' distinction and finalist for V A S 'Artist of the Year' Award
2007 1st Prize Oils St.Kevin's College Melbourne - Oils Bacchus Marsh - Guest Artist at Lorne and Werribee Art Shows - Finalist Corangamarah Art Prize - selected artist Great Ocean Road 75th Anniversary exhibition Geelong
2006 1st Prize Oils Lorne Art Show - 1st Prize People's Choice Lorne Art Show - 1st Prize Oils Bacchus Marsh Art Show - 1st Prize Oils Werribee Art Show - 1st Prize People's Choice Award St Joseph's College Annual Art Show.
Travel Scholarship Finalist National Alice Bale Awards and also shortlisted finalist Oil/Acrylic section.
Surfcoast Shire Award finalist selection for 2007 Calendar - 1st Prize Oils Birregurra Art Show.
2005 1st Prize Oils Lorne Art Show - 1st and 2nd Prizes People's Choice Lorne Art Show - 1st Prize Best in Show/acquisitive Drysdale Rotary Art Show - 2nd Prize Oils Bacchus Marsh Art Show - 1st Prize Werribee Art Show - 1st Prize Birregurra Art Show - Finalist for Victorian Artists Society 'Artist of the Year' Award.
2004 Gordon Foundation selection, one of six artists for representation in the 2004 Geelong Regional Artists Exhibition - 1st Prize Watercolour and 1st Prize People's Choice Award St.Joseph's College Show, Geelong - Geelong Art Society 'Fifty Years Celebration' Show - 1st Prize/Acquisitive Maritime/watercolour Leopold Art Show - Finalist Victorian Artists Society Artist of the Year
2003 1st Prize People's Choice Lorne Art Show - 1st Prize Watercolour Lorne Art Show -
1st Prize Best Painting Acquisitive Geelong Open Art Show [Judge Geoffrey Edwards Director Geelong Gallery] - Surfcoast Shire Calendar Award [for 2004 edition] - 1st Prize Best Painting Acquisitive Geelong College Bi-annual Art Show [Judge Geoffrey Edwards Director Geelong Gallery] - Travel Scholarship Finalist National Alice Bale Awards also Finalist in Oils/Acrylic
2002 1st Prize People's Choice Lorne Art Show - 1st Prize Oils Lorne Art Show
2001 1st Prize People's Choice Lorne Art Show - 2nd Prize overall Lorne Art Show - Watercolour Finalist Alice Bale National Awards - The 'Spiritual Award' St. Joseph's College Geelong [Judge Gerard Vaughan Director National Gallery of Victoria]
2000 2nd Prize overall Lorne Art Show
1999 1st Prize Watercolour Momenta Festival Geelong
1998 Surfcoast Calendar Award [for inaugural 1999 edition]
Australian Artist [No 232 October 2003] Six page magazine article - Watercolours painted on location in East Timor.
General Subjects - Coastal and urban themes, people in their environment and social observation.
Mediums and methods - Oils on linen or cotton canvas [watercolours and drawing mediums sometimes used].
Subjects are usually interpreted in representational and intuitive manners using direct drawing and painting methods.