The crisp, refreshing style Werner maintains is a delight, capturing the realistic colours of nature. His images of Sydney’s beaches and waterways, are often depicted with two girls in the foreground, their white sun dresses caught by the breeze as they stroll along the beach.
Werner’s artworks make you joyous, and often rekindle happy memories, perhaps of childhood days or a favourite holiday not so long ago. His country settings can be true to life, or a little romantic.
Werner’s great grandfather was an art teacher in Austria, explaining Werner’s early interest in drawing. Werner was born in Austria in 1943 and migrated to Australia in 1950. This man of many talents has represented Australia in the world surfing championships and was part of the Australian team.
His father was a professional hairdresser and Werner was the top apprentice hairdresser in Australia, winning numerous men’s and ladies Australian hairdressing championships. He then ran a successful business selling product and supplies to hairdressers Australia wide, before making the switch to professional painter.
Werner has been painting professionally for more than 50 years. Largely self-taught, he paints in oil. A specialist in rural and coastal scenes, Werner broadened his choice of subject to include figures. These paintings are popular with owners of coastal properties & holiday homes.
His love for Australia is reflected in every painting he completes from his studio or outdoors. Painting trips to secluded locations, coastal waterways and Australian villages keep his inspiration peaked, as do working holidays overseas.
Provence in France is a particular overseas favourite destination. Werner paints fantastic impressionistic scenes of citrus orchards in bloom, ancient villages, market scenes and bicycles leaning against stone cottages when he is there.
Werner has been the recipient of many awards during his career, with sell out exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide over the decades. Werner appeared as the artist in residence on the Norwegian Star Cruise Ship, giving demonstrations and tour guides of the ships art collection. In 2021, The Combined Art Societies of Sydney awarded Werner first prize in the small painting category in their online competition.
Together with the headmaster of the prestigious Kings School Parramatta, instigated their initial art show, which remains today one of the largest and profitable school art shows in Sydney.
Werner’s artworks have been published as greeting cards, calendars and Australian art gifts, available from Morpeth Gallery.