Avril Thomas - Portrait Artist

Background Information

Avril Thomas, born in Malaysia, has enjoyed a lifetime of drawing and until 1996 it was essentially a private pursuit. Whilst living in Queensland Avril's talent was recognised and was asked to teach.

On returning to South Australia Avril decided to formalize her talents by training at the Adelaide Central School of Arts. Since then she
has participated in a number of exhibitions and has also held solo exhibitions. Avril is now a full time practicing artist.

Her main centre of attention is portraiture in charcoal, graphite pastel and oil. With a resume of over 80 private commissions, all with a
tonal realist style, Avril's works can be found Hong Kong, U.S.A. as well as round Australia.

Career highlight's have been:
Entering the 2004 Archibald Prize with a portrait of Prof. Michael Tyler.
The portrait of Alexander Downer, for the 2005 Archibald Prize, made Avril a finalist.
Commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Neilson, Governor of South Australia
Commissioned by Flinders University to paint Vice Chancellor Anne Edwards

Media Interest:
Following the recognition of Avril's March '04 Archibald entry among the community, the local Messenger newspaper (11.02.04) printed this article.
More recent articles can be found here (Advertiser 09.04.05) and here (Messenger 06.04.05).

Messenger 08.03.06
The Advertiser 29.02.04, 09.04.05, 21.04.05, 22.04.05, 07.03.06, 22.11.06
The Sun Herald 03.05.05
The Age 27.04.05
The Courier 24.04.05
The Australian 22.04.05
The Weekend Australian Financial Review 30.05.05
The Canberra Times 22.11.06

Postcards Channel 9 - Segment - Solo Exhibition "Introducing Avril" 02
Stateline ABC - Segment - "South Australian Women and the Archibald" 04

Artdate - "How I feel about Art" - Issue 75 April/May 06

Professional Information

Member -
Royal South Australian Society of Arts
The Red house Group Inc - Gallery M Marion
Portrait Artists Australia - Sydney

Exhibitions:
Myer Center, Adelaide Central School of Art
Blackwood Rotary Exhibition 2001
Solo Exhibition - Gallery M. Aug - Sept 2002. Introducing Avril
Royal South Australian Society of Arts - Pursuit of Individuality Nov 2002
St Catherine's School - Illuminate - Nov 2002
Royal South Australian Society of Arts - 2003
Royal South Australian Soc of Arts - July 2003
St Catherine’s School - Nov 2003
Solo exhibition - The unveiling “ The Frog Man” Archibald entry and other works - 2004
Scotch College - Immerse your Senses 2004
St Catherine’s School - Art & Sol 2004
Finalist Archibald 2005 - Gallery N.S.W.
Newcastle Region Art Gallery -July - August 2005
Moree Plains Gallery - August - September 2005
Cowra Art Gallery - September - October 2005
Albury Regional Art Gallery - October - November 2005
Victorian Arts Centre - November - February 2005
Kadumba drawing award N.S.W – 2005
Scotch College – Scotch Fine Art Exhibition 2006
St Johns –Belair Hills Art Show 2006
Solo Exhibition – Bon Voyage 2006
Portrait Artists Australia - Sydney - Idols and Icons 2006
Unveiling of Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Neilson's portrait for the National Portrait Gallery Canberra 2006
Scotch College – Scotch Fine Art Exhibition 2007
Royal South Australian Society of Arts – Spring Exhibition 2007
Life Work Art Exhibition - Adelaide 2007
Portrait Artists Australia – Sydney – Friends 2007





			Background Information Avril Thomas, born in Malaysia, has enjoyed a lifetime of drawing and until 1996 it was essentially a private pursuit. Whilst living in Queensland Avril's talent was recognised and was asked to teach. On returning to South Australia Avril decided to formalize her talents by training at the Adelaide Central School of Arts. Since then she has participated in a number of exhibitions and has also held solo exhibitions. Avril is now a full time practicing artist. Her main centre of attention is portraiture in charcoal, graphite pastel and oil. With a resume of over 80 private commissions, all with a tonal realist style, Avril's works can be found Hong Kong, U.S.A. as well as round Australia. Career highlight's have been: Entering the 2004 Archibald Prize with a portrait of Prof. Michael Tyler. The portrait of Alexander Downer, for the 2005 Archibald Prize, made Avril a finalist. Commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Neilson, Governor of South Australia Commissioned by Flinders University to paint Vice Chancellor Anne Edwards Media Interest: Following the recognition of Avril's March '04 Archibald entry among the community, the local Messenger newspaper (11.02.04) printed this article. More recent articles can be found here (Advertiser 09.04.05) and here (Messenger 06.04.05). Messenger 08.03.06 The Advertiser 29.02.04, 09.04.05, 21.04.05, 22.04.05, 07.03.06, 22.11.06 The Sun Herald 03.05.05 The Age 27.04.05 The Courier 24.04.05 The Australian 22.04.05 The Weekend Australian Financial Review 30.05.05 The Canberra Times 22.11.06 Postcards Channel 9 - Segment - Solo Exhibition "Introducing Avril" 02 Stateline ABC - Segment - "South Australian Women and the Archibald" 04 Artdate - "How I feel about Art" - Issue 75 April/May 06 Professional Information Member - Royal South Australian Society of Arts The Red house Group Inc - Gallery M Marion Portrait Artists Australia - Sydney Exhibitions: Myer Center, Adelaide Central School of Art Blackwood Rotary Exhibition 2001 Solo Exhibition - Gallery M. Aug - Sept 2002. Introducing Avril Royal South Australian Society of Arts - Pursuit of Individuality Nov 2002 St Catherine's School - Illuminate - Nov 2002 Royal South Australian Society of Arts - 2003 Royal South Australian Soc of Arts - July 2003 St Catherine’s School - Nov 2003 Solo exhibition - The unveiling “ The Frog Man” Archibald entry and other works - 2004 Scotch College - Immerse your Senses 2004 St Catherine’s School - Art & Sol 2004 Finalist Archibald 2005 - Gallery N.S.W. Newcastle Region Art Gallery -July - August 2005 Moree Plains Gallery - August - September 2005 Cowra Art Gallery - September - October 2005 Albury Regional Art Gallery - October - November 2005 Victorian Arts Centre - November - February 2005 Kadumba drawing award N.S.W – 2005 Scotch College – Scotch Fine Art Exhibition 2006 St Johns –Belair Hills Art Show 2006 Solo Exhibition – Bon Voyage 2006 Portrait Artists Australia - Sydney - Idols and Icons 2006 Unveiling of Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Neilson's portrait for the National Portrait Gallery Canberra 2006 Scotch College – Scotch Fine Art Exhibition 2007 Royal South Australian Society of Arts – Spring Exhibition 2007 Life Work Art Exhibition - Adelaide 2007 Portrait Artists Australia – Sydney – Friends 2007