Welcome to the website of award-winning Australian artist Harold Lane
April 2012
Artist Harold Lane, so well known to Queensland art lovers for the quality of his representational landscapes and figure studies, has died aged almost 87.
Born in Sydney in 1925, his early childhood was spent in Toowoomba and then at Somerset Dam, where his family operated the ranch which provided food for the men who were building the dam. At age 13 he was sent to study art in Brisbane at the school of F.J. Martyn-Roberts, living at that young age in a New Farm boarding house. Entry to the school program was allowed only by the presentation of promising drawing examples and the tuition was extremely formal but he did well there.
At the outbreak of War, too young to join the RAN, he served in the Merchant Navy around the Queensland Coast and on troop carriers such as the Gorgon. He served for two years with the American Small Ships service, particularly around New Guinea, on an auxiliary tanker refuelling landing barges.
The 1950s were a time of great stimulation for him. He lived at Kings Cross, working by day as a clerk on the wharves and studying at night at East Sydney Technical College. He developed his love for colourful characters during that time and became a popular personality and story teller himself, handling a pint or something stronger as befitted the son of a country pub managing family. Throughout his life his amusing anecdotes were a joy to his friends as was his tenor voice which took him on stage in Sydney with the NSW Light Opera Company. He performed in the chorus in Die Fledermaus and also the Student Prince.
Returning to Brisbane with his first wife, Elisabeth, he became involved in his first shows which were mixed exhibitions at Kennigo Street Gallery and the Moreton Gallery. Eventually, he became able to paint full time and he exhibited with Don McInnes in Brisbane, John Brackenreg at Artarmon Galleries, NSW, Ailsa Osborne in Adelaide, John Cooper on the Gold Coast and several provincial galleries. His work was purchased for the Queensland Art Gallery and the Commonwealth Government Collection. Commissions came from the Attorney General’s Department, Canberra to paint a very large triptych for the Darwin Law Courts and from Swiss Alumina to paint scenes from Gove for their Swiss Offices. Opening nights were always great fun, with Harold’s sartorial excellence and his predilection for hand tied bow ties to the forefront. His exhibitions were always well received and reviewed.
Throughout the 1970s and later, Harold continued to paint several exhibitions per year for galleries such as The Young Australian and Galloway Galleries. His art was purchased by banks, investment houses and other prestigious firms and was sent overseas to England, America, Germany and Switzerland. Up until his last days, after many years of debilitating illness, he always believed that he would paint again and longed for that time. His philosophy was that a painter is never finished learning and that a well rounded artist tries his hand at many art forms. Working mainly in representational oils, he also enjoyed water colours and had tried sculpture and wood carving. Success came many times in competitions for landscapes, portraiture and figure work. The variety of his works demonstrated a keen observance of the natural world reflected in his exquisite landscapes, seascapes and depiction of animals and birds.
In later life Harold enjoyed the beautiful Scenic Rim country, living near Moogerah Dam for 13 years, then for 15 years on Bribie Island and Ningi and most recently at Caboolture. He will be much missed by wife Grace, his large extended family and a wide circle of caring friends. Harold’s memory will live on through the joy that his paintings will continue to give.
Feel free to browse through the Galleries (linked from the top of this page). The works shown here are not for sale, but are displayed purely for your pleasure. We hope that you will enjoy your stay and call again.
Thank you for visiting.
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