Edward Spessot, or Eddie to his friends retains a love with the landscape, the Australian bush and the changing face of nature and the challenge of capturing light on canvas. Eddie especially loves to paint trees, and has been painting professionally since 1995.
Born in 1937 in Gradisca in Northern Italy, a town not too far from Venice, Eddie’s grandparents arrived in Australia in the 1930’s to take up farming in the Sydney suburb of St Ives. Eventually Eddie’s father and family moved out to Australia, where they lived on 2.5 acres of land at West Pymble. At the age of 16 Eddie’s father decided that he should accept an apprenticeship in electrical engineering, but Eddie was drawn to art. He instead commenced employment in George St, Sydney, painting statues. Eddie decided he’d work as a woodcarver, and studied sculpture while woodcarving for a living. Eddie says he feels that woodcarving and painting have many similarities.
In the 1960’s Eddie married and constructed his own house in St Ives. After hand carving the fireplace surround, Eddie’s wife requested a painting for the mantle. He painted this, took it to be framed and the picture framer suggested he take the painting to a gallery. The painting sold immediately. His career in painting, as well as sculpture & woodcarving has continued ever since.
