Berni Ayreart

BERNI AYREART (b.1961 - ) Painter, Printmaker, Photographer and Artist Book-maker.

Daylesford Artist Berni Ayreart's creations are inspired by immersing herself in the Australian landscape.

Berni's paintings have been described as alluring and sensitive, enticing the viewer to consider her journey and sensory experience exploring tracks, valleys, forests, back paddocks, and or exposed escarpments. 

Her works are often intriguing, inviting all to take a closer look to find hidden detail and story lines. She imparts a genuine knowledge of place and sense of country whether it be her local environment or landscapes visited. Often first painting 'en plein air' her understanding of light play, the relationship of Fauna and Flora found in a landscape, is captured within layers and textural areas of vivid Australian tones using both painting and printing techniques.

Berni is self taught. A teenager in the 1970's and 80's, she learnt to paint by copying works of Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Kenneth Jack and other well known artists, sitting on the floor of the N.S.W. Art Gallery during school holidays. Her only formal tuition from her school teacher, the avant-garde Artist George Balyck, was critical in encouraging Berni to continue to explore her creativity. 

Incidental friendships with popular Artists of the time, met while Berni painted around the Sydney harbourside provided further encouragement and exhibition opportunities. Many Artists passed on their old brushes, tubes of paint and discarded canvases! These artist friends included James R Jackson, Betty Stevens, Jack Lynn, Peter Kingston, and Luna Park mural artist Martin Sharp. 

In 1977, Berni exhibited at the prestigious Artarmon International Art Gallery. Winning an Encouragement Award and Arts Scholarship to the UK for her work: 'On the banks of the Murray'. This overseas opportunity was declined by her parents, causing Berni to rebel leaving home at 16 to find work to support herself and her art. 

In late 1979 Berni suffered a minor stroke that forced a change of career. While completing Graphic Arts and Photography Diplomas, Berni became a Biomedical and Forensic Photographer, interspersed with weekend Photo Journalism in regional Australia. It was her new found love of photography that has afforded her a wealth of images of Australian landscapes that inspires many of her current works.

Notable Art prizes over the last 30 plus years include: multiple awards, and acquisitions including: the ANL Mission to Seafarers Maritime Art Prize 'People's Choice' Award; Melbourne University; RMIT Contemporary Art Prize; Best in Show, Best Landscape - regional Rotary Art Shows; and features articles in the Australian Artist Magazine. Collections include: Shires of Mitchell, Whittlesea and Darabin. The Kingdom of Tonga Royal Collection, City of Rotorua People's Collection, Blackpool Gallery Collection, Vancouver Canada Expat collection, and in private collectors hands in Australia and overseas. 

Berni remains a committed volunteer Arts mentor and teacher, Curator and Patron of the Arts. She provides workshops for isolated regional and Indigenous VCE Art students, and mentors adults. Berni has received two Women's Day Awards for mentoring and promoting Youth Indigenous Arts, and for her three years work with affected bushfire Youth to develop their Mitchell Shire 2009 Black Saturday Youth Bushfire Memorial installation at the Clonbinane Community Hall, Vic. She is an active local Gov. Advisor for - Arts Culture Heritage and Conservation in regional communities.

Berni has studios in Glenlyon (near Daylesford) and on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, affording her both bush and ocean landscapes to inspire new works.