Fiona Bilbrough

Mariposa Plums

Winner of the Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2024

Fiona Bilbrough is a traditional artist whose formal training began under the mentorship of Master Painter John Balmain from 1989 to 1990, followed by private tuition. It was John Balmain who encouraged Fiona to enter the Alice Bale Travelling Scholarship, inspiring her to expand her studies beyond his guidance and experience the great Masters firsthand overseas. Fiona was fortunate to win the Alice Bale Travelling Scholarship, spending two years abroad cultivating a deep appreciation for artists such as John Singer Sargent, Velázquez, and Corot.

Portrait of Paris

Upon her return, she resumed her part-time teaching role at McClelland Gallery in Langwarrin, instructing students ranging from ten-year-olds to mature painters – a period she describes as some of her most rewarding in her artistic journey. She graduated from the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education, in 1990 and has continued to dedicate herself to both her own painting and the mentoring of others. Fiona has been a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters’ Society since 2016 and currently serves as its President. In 2024, she won the Camberwell Rotary Art Show.

Bilbrough painting at her easel in her studio

Fiona believes deeply in the importance of exhibiting work and encourages her students to frame and enter competitions, helping them experience the thrill of seeing their paintings alongside other accomplished artists. She emphasizes that, while everyone starts from the same place, with encouragement, enthusiasm, and good teaching, anyone can develop their skills. Few things bring her more joy than witnessing her students’ “penny-drop” moments of understanding and achievement. Although she enters art shows less frequently, Fiona continues to delight in painting en plein air with fellow artists, chasing the elusive light. In her late 50’s, she has become more selective with her time, cherishing her garden, which often supplies elements for her still-life paintings. She considers her garden an outdoor work of art, designed to bring calm and pleasure to visitors.

Apricots in Detail

Fiona observes that many great historical artists shared her fascination with nature and gardening – a curiosity about life and its constant change. For her, painting is a practice of mindfulness: it engages the mind, fosters reflection, and leaves tangible results, unlike other forms of mindfulness. She embraces her art as both a personal joy and a shared experience, finding deep satisfaction in connecting with students and fellow artists alike.