I was born in Whyalla South Australia on November 6th 1966 and grew up in the beautiful, rugged Flinders Ranges. Art and it’s history has always fascinated me, but it was during a working holiday in Europe in 1993 that I found myself spending every free moment in Art Galleries/Museums. On my return to Australia I painted for the first time since a small child and ‘Art’ has been my life from that day.

Nikyla's Website: www.nikylasmith.com

A short time later I returned to Europe for another twelve months and during that year I haunted the major Art Galleries, spending much of my time studying the old masters, of whom Vermeer and Caravaggio are my heroes, with their extraordinary ability to capture light and atmosphere in their works.

I am a self taught artist and ‘Oils’ is my preferred medium, although I have dabbled in a variety of others. I love the total control you can have with oils and being an artist who thrives on ‘detail’ in my works, control is very important. Even though I am very much an outdoors person I only paint in my studio and work from my sketches and photographs. Since I started painting seriously in 1997 I have enjoyed painting a variety of subjects, but I get the greatest joy out of painting Wildlife and Australian Flora.

The NSW State Floral Emblem the ‘Waratah’ is currently my signature subject. I paint it from a variety of aspects and have had the privilege of accepting numerous commissions on this subject. In September/October 2000 I participated in various Waratah drawing workshops at the ‘Royal Botanic Gardens’ in Sydney, which taught me much about the Botanical structure of the Waratah and gave me a much broader knowledge of the species.

Many of my paintings have been selected for hanging in numerous Art Competitions/shows, including ~The ‘Sydney Royal Easter Show Art Exhibition’ (last four years) winning a 3rd Prize in 1999 and 2000 in the ‘Australian Birds/Flowers’ section and the ‘Still Life’ section respectively. Other shows include - the ‘Camberwell Rotary Art Show’ in Vic.; ‘Rotary Club of Victor Harbour Art Show’ in SA.; the ‘St. Ignatius’ College Art and Craft Exhibition’ in Sydney; ‘Rotary Club of Singleton on Hunter Art Prize’; and numerous country Art Prize shows.

In June 2000 the director of the ‘Morpeth Gallery’ in the Hunter Valley, invited me to exhibit some of my works in their annual ‘Wildlife Exhibition’, which was very successful. I have been exhibiting my work in the Morpeth Gallery since that time.

In July 2000 a number of my paintings were chosen for exhibition, by the Director of the newly established ‘Discover Art Australia’ shop at Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney, through which I have had a number of international sales.

The ‘Australian Artist’ magazine chose my painting ‘Waratah – Nature’s Glory’ as the 3rd Prize winner in their December 2001 Art challenge and they have asked me to write a feature article on my painting techniques for one of their future issues.

After both working and painting part-time for a number of years, I made the decision in August 2000 to concentrate solely on my art career, which has been most worth while. In November 2001 I moved to Queensland and now live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Nikyla Amanda Smith's original paintings are available from the Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green street Morpeth NSW 2321. Open 10am till 5 pm Thursday until Sundays. Telephone during these hours (02) 49344200 or AH (02) 49331407