IAN HANSEN F.R.A.S., F.A.S.M.A. (Aust) MARINE ARTIST

Born in South Australia in 1948, Ian's childhood years were spent on the shores of Hervey Bay. It was here that his deep love of the sea and ships began. By the age of eight, he was actively painting with watercolour moving to oils when he was eleven. His first oil work still hangs in his studio in Hunters Hill.

Joining the Navy at fifteen, Ian served for twelve years continually painting the ships and scenes he observes on his travels. On leaving the navy Ian decided to paint full time and eventually settled in Sydney.

Married and with three children, Ian lives in Hunters Hill in a heritage house built in 1906 as a Doctors, residence. Ian paints in his Studio gallery converted from the original stables. He enjoys taking to sea on his ya "Karalee " and has completed many ocean races. Sailing is still an important part of his life and it is from these; trips that he draws his inspiration and great understanding of the sea.

In 2000 the Royal Australian Navy invited Ian to East Timor. He spent time on several of the ships painting scenes of the Navy's involvement during the crisis.

He joined Don and Margie McIntyre on a trip to Antarctica in 2002 aboard the "Sir Hubert Wilkins " on 5 week voyage, where Ian sketched and painted the magnificent scenes of the Great Southern Continent.

Ian is acknowledged throughout the world for his exacting historical correctness in his paintings and spends man-hours researching ships and their places in history as well as significant occasions in history where ships of the line are involved.

Ian has won many awards the first in 1961 and more recently he has taken out one of the worlds top awards for marine Artists, the Thomas Well' Award " for his painting of the Tweed "declared" a flawless example of maritime art ". 140 Marine artists were the Finalists from around thee world inn most prestigious global award. This is an annual award held in Mystic, Connecticut, USA.

I search Australia for the best artist in a particular style. When I find the most talented and with obvious investment potential they are invited to join the group. I am glad my peers, on the world stage, have echoed my opinion of this excellent artist.

Ian exhibits with the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut USA, the Kendall Gallery on the Isle of Wight and galleries in Sydney. For the past three years Ian has been appointed one of Mystic Museum's 'Wemier Artists" an appointment only given to twenty artists worldwide. Ian is a Fellow of the Royal Art Society (NSW) and the Australian Society of Marine Artists. He has had several one man exhibitions and his works hang in Government House in Sydney, Qantas house, the Sydney Stock Exchange, the AMP Building, the National Maritime Museum and in many private collections around the world.