Peter Lawson

Acclaimed artist, Peter Lawson, has had an illustrious career over the past 55 years. Living solely on his paintings.

Born into the talented Lawson family, Peter is the grandnephew of Poet and Prose Writer, Henry Lawson. Peter’s place of birth was Townsville, North Queensland in 1946. His childhood, and youth were spent on Magnetic Island, he was educated in Townsville.

An early recognition of his gifts and talent, saw him enrolled in a correspondence course at age 11 with The Art Training Institute, Melbourne, 1957-1960. As his mother would often state, “when other little boys were playing with toys, Peter had a pencil in his hand.”

He began painting on Magnetic Island and continues to paint here today from his studio gallery, Peter Lawson Fine Art, Arcadia, Magnetic Island.

Encouraged by Professor Colin Roderick of James Cook University, Lawson painted his interpretations of Henry Lawson’s poems and stories. Seven publications, several with Professor Roderick were completed. Lawson states, “spending time with Henry Lawson’s work, I started to see and feel the soul of the Australian bush, I feel I am a more effective painter because of those years.”

During the first 30 years of Lawson’s life, he completed 4200 paintings, held 58 Exhibitions and published 7 books. Innumerable prizes were awarded to him.

A prolific period in Lawson’s life was spent during 10 years travelling throughout Australia, painting and selling his work, drawing gallery attention and national recognition for his fine knifed oils on canvas.

Overseas painting trips into Asia, Europe and the United States, saw Lawson’s works hanging in galleries, and within private and public collections. His last major Exhibition was Peter Lawson Retrospect- Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 2015-2016. “A lifetime achievement in the Arts sees Peter Lawson as one of the most prolific painters from and of the Townsville and North Queensland region” Eric Nash, curator, Gallery Services, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.