Berni Ayreart

Painter, Printmaker, Photo Journalist and Artist bookmaker 1961-

Inspired by the Australian landscape and an intimate understanding of Indigenous culture, sense of place, and inspired by fauna and flora, Berni's landscapes have been described as alluring, enticing the viewer to consider the artist's sensory experience while immersed in bushlands, sitting in a back paddock or alone in the remote outback. 

Whether traditional or contemporary, each work is executed revealing finely constructed detail and respect for form, texture and light. Some landscapes executed 'en plein air' are a combination of printing techniques using leaves, bark and natural earth that provide a textural sub structure to support an initial layering of colour, then the work is added to back in the studio.

Born in 1961, Berni (aka Jo) spent most of her early years in rural N.S.W. enjoying drawing and watercolours from an early age. Relocating to Sydney in her teens her school art teacher was the 'Avant Garde' artist George Balyck who very much encouraged Berni to pursue her passion and talent. However, it was her weekend roaming's around the Sydney harbourside and the northern beaches looking for inspiration that Berni stumbled and befriended prominent 1970's and 1980's Artists painting outdoors, some providing her with their old paints and discarded canvases as well as informal tuition. These artists included James R Jackson, Betty Stevens, Jack Lynn, Peter Kingston, and Luna Park mural artist Martin Sharp. Unbeknown until later in life, painting comes almost naturally for Berni, it is in her DNA with her family tree revealing a number of prominent landscape artist ancestors. 

Berni exhibited her first oil landscapes at the prestigious Artarmon International Art Gallery at age 15, where she won an UK Arts Scholarship for a traditional oil landscape: 'On the banks of the Murray'. Other early public and group exhibitions included: the Sydney Royal Easter Agricultural Show, Hyde Park open air weekend exhibitions, Birkenhead Point Art Gallery, The Rocks Gallery Circular Quay,  Ridge St. Gallery North Sydney, Woollahra and Darlinghurst Art Galleries and Rotary Art Shows. 

After suffering a stroke in her late teens, Berni chose an alternative career path for a number of years as a Medical Forensic Photographer then a Photojournalist, before returning to painting in semi retirement in 1990. 

Notable prizes include public choice awards and acquisitions including the ANL Mission to Seafarers Maritime Art Prize 'People's Choice' Award, Melbourne University, RMIT Contemporary Art Prize, and many prominent Rotary Art Shows and features in the Australian Artist Magazine. Collections include: Shires of Mitchell, Whittlesea and Darabin Permanent Collections, Kingdom of Tonga Royal Collection, City of Rotorua People's Collection, Blackpool Gallery Collection, Vancouver Canada Expat collection, and with private collectors in Australia and overseas. 

Berni is a frequent entrant in the Linden Postcard Show, Rotary Camberwell and Altona Art Shows, Archibald, various State Printing Awards, Seymour and TARTS Tallarook Members Art Shows, Rotary Art shows and Select Group Exhibitions across Australia and internationally. 

Berni is a committed volunteer mentor, teacher, curator and Patron of the Arts. She has provided workshops for VCE Art students, isolated regional Indigenous young artists, and taught those who sought more confidence to pursue their passion for art. She has been a senior Gov. Advisor for - Arts Culture Heritage and Conservation, and won two Women's Day Awards for her dedication to promoting the Arts and her volunteer community and regional work.