Bio

I was born in Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1961 into a creative family. My father was a professional musician, my mother was an artist painting into her 90s. I loved art from an early age and was always encouraged by my older brother Robert, who is an amazing surrealist painter in Western Australia. 
We would draw, paint and make animated movies together. I then progressed on to acrylic painting through high school where I received top marks for art. This also inspired me to keep it up, so I progressed on to oil paint on stretched canvas which was so exciting.

I studied Painting and Drawing at Claremont School of Art as a Diploma, in Western Australia, as well as an extensive TAFE art education.

I love the subtle tones and colours in both water and sky so have a great love for landscape. Particularly early morning and late afternoon when the shadows are longer and there is more colour in the sky. I enjoy creating atmosphere and depth in my work as I want to hold the viewer's gaze and get them to look all around the painting, discovering things they might not have seen initially. Reflections on the water is another area I love to paint.

My wife Jennie and I and our 3 kids at the time, moved from Perth, WA to Tasmania in 1998 and bought a turn of the century (circa 1905) building on the main street of Cygnet. (the first general store in Cygnet)

We opened our own Art Gallery one year later ’Stanley’s Studio/Gallery’ in Cygnet, located in the Huon Valley of Tasmania, and have been operating ever since. I become a professional artist then and have exhibited in many exhibitions and art awards (see below) with success in winning two Major Awards, nine Peoples Choice and three Mayors Choice Awards over the years including several Acquisitional Awards.

I work in oils, acrylics, pastels, and watercolours but now I mainly focus on oil paintings.
I produce a series of Fine Art Prints both on canvas and paper both Limited and Open Editions, also a range of Greeting Cards.

I accept commission work also meaning I can paint a particular scene you might love any size on stretched canvas. 

• I was the Chairman of the Huon Art Exhibition Group (HAEG) in Cygnet for 5 years and on the committee for 10 years.
• Was an exhibiting member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA). 
• I have been an Art Prize Judge for the 2014 Royal Hobart Show, Art Awards.
• I continue to own and operate Stanley' Studio/Gallery in Cygnet for the past 26 years.
• I am represented by Art2Muse Gallery Woollahra, Sydney
• Also Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff, Victoria.

I hope you enjoy the site. Email or ring me if there is anything you would like to know.

Regards,

Richard Stanley. 

• Winner of the Peoples Choice Award. Geeveston Art Prize 2025
• Highly Commended Oil Painting Award. Huon Art Awards 2025
• Best Oil Painting Award. Waterways Art Awards Hobart 2025
• Runner Up Overall. Waterways Art Awards Hobart 2025
• Best in Show. Geeveston Art Awards 2024
• Best Work on Canvas. Geeveston Art Awards 2024
• Best Oil Painting Award in Show. Huon Art Awards Cygnet 2024
• Best in Show. Geeveston Art Awards 2023
• Acquisitive Award. Homelands , Huon Art Awards 2021
• Highly Commended, The Art Society of Tasmania, Waterways Exhibition, Long Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart, Peoples Choice Award 2021
• Best in Show, The Art Society of Tasmania, Waterways Exhibition, Long Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart, Peoples Choice Award, 2017
• Acquisitive Award, Bendigo Bank, Watermark Art Awards, 2015
• People's Choice Award, Southern Exposure, 2014
• Mayors Choice Award, Southern Exposure, 2014
• Mayors Choice Award, on the edge, – Dover – 2012
• People's Choice Award, Royal Hobart Show, Artery Art on Show -Hobart – 2011
• People's Choice Award, Watermark Art Awards -Cygnet – 2011
• People's Choice Award, Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) Tasmania – 2010
• Runner Up Peoples Choice Award, Watermark Art Awards – Cygnet – 2009
• People's Choice Award, Salamanca Collection/Islington Hotel – Hobart – 2008
• People's Choice Award, Lovett Gallery – Cygnet – 2008
• Mayors Choice Watermark Art Awards – Cygnet – 2007
• People's Choice Award, Watermark Art Awards – Cygnet – 2007
• People's Choice Award, Watermark Art Awards – Cygnet – 2005
• Best Pastel Award Plein Air Art Awards – Woodbridge – 2005
• (Joint Winner) En Plein Air Art Award – Cygnet – 2004

I have exhibited in over 20 locations, with my work being synonymous with the Tasmanian landscape. Find out below where I have exhibited and continue to exhibit:

• Geeveston Art Show. Huon Valley. Tasmania, 2025
• Huon Art Awards, Cygnet. Tasmania, 2025
• Waterways Exhibition, The Art Society of Tasmania, Long Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart - 2025
  
• Art2Muse Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, NSW. 2024
• Geeveston Art Show Tasmania 2023/24
• Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff, Victoria - 2018 to the present
• Huon Art Awards Cygnet - 2017-18-19-20-21-22-23-24
• Lady Franklin Gallery, Hobart. - 2017
• Huon Art, Cygnet, Tasmania. - 2017/18
• Gallery Salamanca - 2013 - 2017
• Aspect Design - 2013 - 2017
• Waterways Exhibition, The Art Society of Tasmania, Long Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart - 2017, 2021.
• Wrest Point Casino Art Prize Hobart, Boardwalk Gallery - 2016 & 2017
• Watermark Art Awards, Cygnet, Tasmania - 2015 
• Stanley’s Studio/Gallery Cygnet (ongoing exhibits)
• ‘ on the edge ‘ Art Exhibition, Dover - 2012
• Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) Exhibition – Lovett Gallery – Cygnet- 2011
• Royal Hobart Show, Artery Art on Show -Hobart – 2011 – 2012 - 2013 - 2014
• Tas Art Exhibition Burnie Regional Gallery – 2011 – 2012
• Watermark Art Awards – Cygnet – 2007 – 2009 -2011-2013 - 2015
• Scottsdale Art & Framing- 2010-11
• Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) Exhibition – Lovett Gallery – Cygnet- 2010
• Salamanca Collections – Hobart – 2008
• Lovett Gallery – Cygnet – 2008 – 09 – 10 – 11 – 12
• Living Artists Week – Marion's Studio/Gallery – 2007
• Solo Exhibition at The Sidespace Gallery Salamanca Hobart April 06
• En Plein Air Art Competition Cygnet 2006
• The Old Lodge Gallery – Gladstone, NSW – 2005
• Long Gallery Members Show – Salamanca Arts Centre – 2005
• Peppermint Bay Resort, Woodbridge – 2005
• Regnans Gallery – Peppermint Bay, Woodbridge – 2005
• Watermark, Marine Art Prize – Cygnet – 2005
• En Plein Air Art Competition – Woodbridge – 2005
• Marine Art competition – Cygnet Town Hall – 2004
• En Plein Air Art Competition – Cygnet – 2004
• Southern Exposure Exhibition – Cygnet Town Hall – 2003/04/05/06/07/10/12/14
• Marine Art Awards – Cygnet Town Hall – 2003
• Crohill Gallery – Bicheno – 2003
• Footprints – Launceston – 2003
• Tasmania Shop & Gallery – Salamanca, Hobart – 2003
• Royal Hobart Show Exhibition – 2002
• 10 days on the Island Exhibition – Stanley, Tasmania – 2001
• Dover Art Gallery – Dover – 2001
• Wrest Point Casino Exhibition – Hobart – 2001, 2002 $ 2004
• En Plein Air Art Competition – Woodbridge – 2001

Gallery Representation :

Email : help@bluethumb.com.au