Early encouragement by her teachers at Camberwell Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, together with a family tradition of creativeness and ingenuity has provided Judy with a sound direction in her chosen field of Art. Visiting overseas galleries in America and Europe gave her a passion for traditional art. She also took time to do many sketches of places and animals wherever she travelled.

Her creative interests in spinning, knitting, sewing, needlework, and model boat building is ongoing as is her love of gardening, in particular the nurturing of roses and a variety of flowers which will often be seen in her still life paintings.

In 1977, feeling a need to extend herself more with her artwork, she decided to do an oil painting course provided by the CAE at Burwood State College, (now Deakin University, Burwood Campus), with Mr. Colin Johnson. After twelve months, Colin Johnson who had other commitments for the following year suggested that Judy should continue her studies at Syndal Technical School with Ramon Horsfield.

From 1978 to 1981 Judy continued her studies in oil painting, working from casts and painting still life subjects. The course also included landscape painting on location.

Ramon Horsfield encouraged Judy to take up painting as a full time profession. However, having to care for her mother during her mother’s illness, she was unable to commit herself fully to painting at that time. When her mother died in 1981 Judy was then in a position to paint full time.

For two years, between 1988 and 1989, Judy studied Life drawing at Casey College of TAFE, Wonthaggi Campus, under the guidance of Mr. Paul Satchel. A pass was obtained in this accredited course. During this time Judy also studied oil painting with Shirley Bourne at the Malvern Artists’ Society.

From 1991 Judy has been a member of the Victorian Artists Society, where she had her second solo exhibition in the Cato Gallery in 1993. In this same year she also became a council member. On 16 April 1996 Judy was elected a Signatory of the Victorian Artists Society.

Judy is presently a member of the Bass Artists’ Society, (formally the Wonthaggi Art Group), The Australian Guild of Realist Artists and the Victorian Artists Society.

Judy has won many prizes, awards and commendations since 1980. Some of which are listed as follows - at the Camberwell Rotary Art Show her painting ‘Bacchus the Wine God’ obtained a highly Commended from Sir William Dargie. She was also a finalist in the travelling scholarship award for two years in a row. Judy has won first prize three times consecutively at the Geelong Artists Society’s Art Show and first prizes at the Mornington and Wangaratta Art Shows for her oil paintings.

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

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

A Dictionary of Women Artists of Australia by Max Germain, Directory of International Biography (twenty-sixth Edition), Australian Artist Magazine, Victorian Artists Society Newsletter, South Gippsland Sentinel Times, Waverley Gazette and The Express.