Peter J Hill

‘Australiana Porch Thoughts’

At a fundraising event in Melbourne, my winning ‘Green A76’ raffle ticket returned my family with an original and stunning Peter J Hill framed ‘Australiana’ painting of a draught horse that now proudly brightens our lounge room. With a little ‘Google’ research into Peter’s artistic background, I discovered our painting had travelled from Mount Tamborine on the Gold Coast and was created by one of Australia’s most talented self-taught artists, whose work predominately reflects his former life working as a Stockman, Shearer, Station Hand, Fencer, Buffalo and Crocodile Hunter.

From my Porch in Melbourne to Peter’s Porch at PJ Art Gallery in Queensland which he runs with his wife Judy, I connected with Peter to thank him for our painting and learnt that Peter’s masterpieces are home to corporate board rooms, private collections, hotels, clubs, private homes around the world and have been purchased by the Australian Government to be presented to visiting Heads of State.

Peter, I understand you have taken time out of your studio to speak with me, what are you currently painting?

I have two paintings on the go at the moment. One is a cattle branding scene with two working stockman in the Territory. The other is what I term an ‘action’ scene with a stockman chasing a runaway steer on his horse with plenty of dust and gum trees.

You were born in Scone NSW in 1937, can you remember your first childhood memory when you ‘artistically’ connected with Australia?

I can remember my grandfather having draught horses but I was mostly inspired as an artist when I first went to the Outback and saw the unique colours of the skies and dirt. The richness of the Outback was incredible.

You are a self-taught naturally talented artist, are there any other artists in your family?

Yes, I am self- taught but it is known in my ancestry that my maternal grandmother was an excellent pencil artist who excelled in portraits.

You have worked on the land from being a Stockman, a Shearer, to being a Crocodile Hunter. What was favourite job and why?

I enjoyed all my work because I was in the Outback and away from the city and from where I went to school in Merrilands. The open spaces, animals and the people I met were unbelievable and feature in many of my paintings.

The Australian Outback is obviously in your blood, when did you first pick up a paint brush and when did you turn pro?

I started painting when I was 19 years old. I was working on a station property north of Broken Hill namely Reola. The owner of the property saw something in my sketches and went to town and bought me a ‘how to paint book’ and some brushes. I turned pro in the 70’s.

The Outback must have been visually appealing as an inspiring artist; with vibrant colours, landscapes, shapes and movement, was there a defining image that you recall that you needed to capture on canvas?

There wasn’t a specific image as such, I was amazed by all the ever-changing colours of nature - the beautiful sunsets and the sun rises. I wanted to paint everything unique to our country such as our plant life and magnificent gum trees.

How do you achieve such a high degree of realism in your observations of your subjects and maintain respect and sensitivity for the Rural Countryside and the Australian Outback?

I paint subjects as I see them through my eyes making me a ‘traditional artist’ and not a ‘contemporary modern artist’.

You can paint everything from trees, plants, animals, skies, dust, people and houses to such ‘realistic’ detail, what do you enjoy painting the most?

I enjoy painting horses the most, and over the years I have lost count as to how many I’ve painted on canvas. I used to live in Canberra and would often visit the War Museum and would sit for hours just studying the great War Horses on show.

How many hours a day do you dedicate to painting?

I spend about 6 hours a day painting and when I don’t feel like it, I watch John Wayne movies. Judy conducts gallery tours, organises exhibitions and co-ordinates promotions and sales of my paintings.

I read there was a major theft with a car ram raid in 2006 smashing through the front of the gallery with your artwork stolen, believed to have been sold on the overseas black market. Have you considered it to be a compliment of your notoriety as a sought-after artist?

It was heartbreaking but we have learnt to live with the robbery. We did take it as a compliment as the thieves picked nine of my best paintings.

Are you planning an exhibition in Melbourne anytime soon?

We would love to have another exhibition in Melbourne and always seeking assistance from galleries. We do most of our exhibitions for charities such as Rotary International and The Lions Club International. We have donated a feature painting valued at $3,000 to help raise funds for Melbourne’s homeless for the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in conjunction with the Lady Mayoress’ Committee’s ‘Heart of Melbourne Ball’ in October.

Who is your favourite artist and why?

The late Harold Septimus Power. Artist Arthur Streeton once wrote of Powers’ work: 'One is impressed first by a tremendous display of colour and a dauntless feeling of optimism. He displays remarkable knowledge and vigour in his paintings of animals.'

What is your Porch Thought of The Day?

“It’s a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.”