ABOUT

"A SOUND LIKE RAIN'  

Opening and Book Signing 12noon 26th of July 2025. Booval Fair Shopping Centre. Thanks to Arts Connect
 ISBN979-8-89660-983-4

Interview YouTube: 18th of July 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpe5I4bhU0g&t=12s


In the Beginning (A Sound Like Rain 2024) Day OneThe Turquoise sky had fallen in and down to Earth melting like butter into the depths of the forest pools. Green tree ants ran wild up and down lianas to known and unknown destinations hunting food for their tribe. They had a history and could make use of any scraps that were left in the green verge and turbulence of leaves and vine. Writing their own script and future Anywhere, Anytime, wherever and whenever they wanted. Vibrating with life and being. Further down reptiles moved upstream further and further as they had no predator or fear anymore just the hunger for territory, survival and sustenance. The arteries of the rainforest hum to the sound of the Riflebird as it displays a notice and muse to a new mate and the sound of Cassowary walking on. Day flying moths flew to the call of the boulders while Ornithoptera displayed size and beauty a thousand times more than what was required and sought in this green mixture of life and abundance and stated that Priamus was King and Queen. So this is what this place is. An encounter, a mixture of green colour and uncluttered noise. This is what this place is.The snake makes a stretch along the tree as if to be a branch then slides effortlessly upward to find a fresh egg or something else to eat. Its glistening armor sparkles rainbows in the speckled light of the rainforest. God lives here or maybe God doesn't. It doesn't matter how it manifests itself as all that counts is that it manifests and conquers with its beauty and surprise. The turbulence of sound, running, crashing water and the rustle of the leaf completes the poetry of noise. A noise that only Nature can make. Once out of the blue the Paradise Kingfisher swoops down to the lower canopy with it's white tail dipping earthward the fluttering wings prods the leaves into a rhythmic almost operatic movement. Leaning forward there were strange sounds in the forest and also footprints in the mud. Footprints in the Mud. The day at the pools continues with carloads arriving for their swimming lessons to hear the call of the princess beckoning them to join her at their leisure forever. 


About Don Hill 

Don held his first Solo Exhibition in Brisbane in 2000 and has held more than 20 one man shows. He is described as a  modernist literary and has been involved in the contemporary Art movement known as "The Recyclers' which focuses on environmental issues and uses found or discarded debris and objects to create works of Art. Don has an extensive history of Associate Shows in Australia and Overseas. He was tutored in the early 1970's by Frank DeSilva, Arthur Evan Read, Mervyn Moriarty and Water Colourist Arch Gratton. Don Hill, May, 1953 has been involved in visual arts for more than 55 years. 
Don's Art is Visually Descriptive and is associated with particular episodes in his life and many travels.
He is an Australian based Multi Disciplinary Artist as well as a Creative Director and Writer.
Over the past few decades he has been developing his writing skills and has just completed writing his new novel Kathmandu Taxi (Copyright) as well as working on the script to Tittenhurst 2004 till current.
From early childhood he has had a love of Art and been involved with many notables and projects over this time in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand.
Don has just published his 10th book which is concurrent with a showing of a series of works with the title "A Sound Like Rain".
My New Book.  "A Sound Like Rain' is now available in its first Limited Edition. Go to my Store at www.donhill.au  to Purchase for only $37 AUD Free Shipping within Australia 


Clouds of January 2025/26

The Rains had come to the Desert for the first time in many years with 
the Sun replaced by the grey of the clouds and the beads falling over the land. 
The Constance of an overcast sky and the patter of rain on the dry red sand 
making a dull sound on contact with the Earth.
A wetness from Heaven.
A wetness on the Earth.
No dry place left in this place and moment. 
Night comes easily at this time and the dark was its only companion and cohort. 
No moon nor stars filled the sky. 
Just darkness. 
No Milky Way to navigate by and be amazed at so far from the bright light
of modern civilization. 
Mud and pools and pools of mud started to form between the dunes as the beads 
fell on the earth as bandicoot shakes the droplets from its coat and continues its 
journey to its secret hideout lair amongst the sand hills. 
Today on and over the far side of the Range through the air the Red Dunes 
rise up to celebrate the next dawn with their parallel calling to welcome the Sun.
This calling will not happen today as there is no Sun and the rain has replaced 
its calling and started in this place. 
Just rain. 
Just rain over and over without forgiveness or pleasure. 
Just rain. 
The widow of the Sun. 
Sun. The husband of blue sky and dreams had now disappeared and were gone
but would return when this time was over and come again to dry and freshen 
the land. 
Rain the freshness of the future but the lust and pain in between.  

Don Hill 2025

Please enjoy the following works from "Clouds of January'. 

"Untitled Scape' Gold pouring, Oil Paint, Leaf and Acrylic on Board 35x 35cm Clouds of January. 2025



 "Lake of Dunes' Gold pouring, Oil Paint, Leaf and Acrylic on Board 40 x 40 cm Clouds of January. 2025



  "Dune Study'. 50 x 50 cm Mixed media on board 2025

 "Stick Country in Gold'. Mixed media on board 80 x 120cm 2025



   " Desert Reflections Lake Mumbleberry' Mixed media on board 60 x 60 cm


 "Black Sky Red Country' Mixed Media on Board. Detail 2025. 120 x 80 cm

 "Red Ochre Land'  Number Three. Mixed media on board 60 x 60 cm 2025
    
  "Blue Sky and Red Ochre Land ' Number One.  Mixed Media on Board. Detail 2025. 60 x 60 cm

              



 "Red Ochre Land'  Number Two. Mixed media on board 80 x 60 cm 2025





 "After Rain' Detail. 40 x40 cm mixed media. 2025     





For more content and information of what's new.  Go to his new site at:


www.donhill.au 


A Sound Like Rain. 2024 ISBN979-8-89660-983-4  Opening Booval Fair Shopping Centre 26th of July 2025 at 12 noon



Yella-Hell. Digital Sketch and Limited Edition Print. 62 x 32.5 cm on archival paper.  A Sound Like Rain 2024

My Paint Box sat idle on the sideboard cupboard as I could not bring myself to paint anything anymore at present. My energy was spent and even though I had not created many works this time these were enough to progress to the next stage whatever that was and whenever it would happen.

The energy of the rainforest was still present in my mind and I had seen many things some good and some not so good.

That adventure had come to an end for the time being. I had an urge to go diving again in the Coral Sea in the underwater rainforest so I started to get my BCD and Regs ready for that next step into the Abyss. Wall dives on the edge of the Shelf held some promise as the vis was always 30 metres plus sometimes 70 metres.

Encounters here were usually big and tangible with the likely hood that a tiger might drift up from the depths to investigate who came splashing into their domain.


"Pool' Study Number One. Oil and Acrylic paint with Gold Leaf on board.


"Pool' Study Number Two. Oil and Acrylic paint with Gold Leaf on board.

The turbulence of sound, running, crashing water and the rustle of the leaf completes the poetry of noise. A noise that only Nature can make.
Once out of the blue the Paradise Kingfisher swoops down to the lower canopy with it's white tail dipping earthward the fluttering wings prods the leaves into a rhythmic almost operatic movement. Leaning forward there were strange sounds in the forest and also footprints in the mud.
Footprints in the Mud

"Depth of Presence. Oil and Acrylic paint with Gold Leaf on board.



"Moonlit figure at the Boulders' Gold and Silver Leaf, Oil and Acrylic paint on box board stretcher 81 x 81cm 2024 From a Sound Like Rain.

The Sun sank behind the trees at the West of the beach as Starfish made tracks and circles in the sand.

CV and Biographical Detail

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2025/26 "Clouds of January" Exhibition and book release  
2025 "A Sound Like Rain' Exhibition with ISBN Registered Book.
          Opening Booval Fair Shopping Centre 26th of July 2025
2023 "Undercurrent" Exhibition and Book Release
2023 "Heading North' Exhibition and Book Release
2021 "Changing Perspectives" Exhibition and Book Release Florence Street Space
2020 "A Shifting Tide" August Brisbane
2020/2019 "Accelerator" London Offices Teneriffe Brisbane
2006 "Paintings from Nature" The Art Factory Brisbane August 2006
2006 Davson Gallery "Sculptures from Canvas"
2005 "Art of the Non Objective Landscape" New Works with Rejected canvas Landscapes, Chinchilla Whitegums Gallery
2005 "Art of the Non Objective Landscape" Works in Bamboo Jasu Gallery Brisbane
2004 " Landscape & Textures from the Shore to the Sky" Rejected Items. Texas Regional Art Gallery
2004 "Shorelines" New Textural and Assemblage recycled items and Landscapes. Cooloola Shire Public Gallery
2004 "Working Plein Air" Sheraton Hotel Brisbane
2004 "Landscapes from the Rim" New textural and assemblage works using Rejected and Recycled Art, Boonah Regional Gallery
2004 'Recent Seascapes' The Sofitel Brisbane Central
2004 "Water and Light" New Oil Panels. The Bundaberg Arts Centre
2003 "Water and Light" Specific use of light in Abstractions. Butter Factory Arts Centre Cooroy
2002 "Recent Paintings" Augelo's New farm
2001 " Painting demonstrations" Port Office Hotel Brisbane
2000 "Moreton Island Series" Fox Studios Brisbane
2000 "Sand Island Paintings" Queensland Law Society Brisbane


Selected Associate Exhibitions
2024 Ipswich Civic Centre
2024 "The Land Between, Above and Below' Florence Street Teneriffe
2023 "Up Late' Ipswich Civic Centre
2021 'Tide Line" with John Dahlsen Book Release and Exhibition
2008 "New Beginnings" Waterfront Place Brisbane city
2007 "River City" Waterfront Place 1 Eagle Street Brisbane
2007 "Psychedelia" CBD Gallery Brisbane
2006 St Sebastian's Biennial exhibition
2006 "The Windows of Opportunity"Brisbane Power House with · Bree Amer
Catherine Anderson, Mike "Banx" Banks, Robyn Bauer, Robert Coleby, Angela Davies, Gavin Dickey, Daisy Dickey, Hannah
Evans, Scott Goddard, Mike Goldman, Travis Hendrix, David Hinchliffe, Kerry Holland, Mary Ibrahim, Kirra Jamison, Justin
Lavender, Tiffiny Laverack, Adrian Lewinski, Natasha Lewis, Christine Maudy, John Morris, Nuuna, Danielle O'Brien, Jim
Olsson, Sam Poursh, Cliff Sheldrake, Emma Sheldrake, Starr, Maxine Stibbe, Margaret Underdown, Chris Williams, Simon Won
2006 Carnival Exhibition CBD Brisbane
2005 "The Doors" Brisbane Power House with Bree Amer,
Anthony Bennett, Cathy Bevis, John Clements, Robert Coleby, Natalie Cook,John Dahlsen, Design College of Australia, Donna
Gee, Mike Goldman, David Hinchliffe, Malcolm Hooper, Mary-Paula Ibrahim, Jan Jorgensen, Tracey Keller, Jack Kennedy,
Brett Lethbridge, Adrian Lewinski, Shane Macfarlane, Felicity Mason, Simon Mclean, Moorooka Day Service, John Morris,
Nuuna, Sammaneh Poursh, Christine Sheldrake, Cliff Sheldrake, Emma Sheldrake, Maxine Stibbe Margaret Underdown, Pam
Walpole & Simon Wong
2005 Jasu Gallery Brisbane
2005 Churchie Emerging Art Prize (Finalist)
2005 "Exposed" Jasu Gallery Brisbane
2003 "Following the Sun" Fox Galleries with Louis Ricaud / Michael Ciavarella
2002 "Indian Summer" Grosvnor on George with John Dahlsen
2002 "Transformations" Fox Galleries with Louis Ricaud and Mark Davies
2001 "Third Annual Eclectic" Fox Galleries Brisbane
2001 "Recent Paintings" Port Office Hotel Brisbane
2001 "Colours of the Bay" Fox Galleries Brisbane with Louis Ricaud
2000 "Annual Eclectic" Fox Galleries Brisbane with Louis Riquad, Anthony Lister, John Dahlsen.
1992 "Art and Soul" Brisbane Art Directors McWhirters Art Space Fortitude Valley
1990 "Art and Soul" Brisbane Art Directors Waterfront Place Brisbane
1990 "Group Showing' Queensland Art Gallery Grey Street South Brisbane
1989 "Art and Soul" Brisbane Art Directors Riverside centre Brisbane
1989 "Logan Art Award" Logan City
1988 "Logan Art Award" John Paul College Logan City
1988 "Fusions Gallery Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley
1987 "Aberdare Art Prize' Ipswich
1989 Logan Art Award (Certificate of Merit Award) Judged by Doug Hall, Queensland Art Gallery Director
1975 Royal National Art Prize (Highly Recommended)
1972 Ipswich Open Portrait Prize (Outright winner) Portrait of Shane
1972 Ipswich Open Art Prize (Outright Winner)



Reviews, Print and ArticlesYouTube  July 2025 InterviewYouTube March 2025 InterviewIpswich Tribune March 2025Fryer Manuscripts, University of Queensland (Current)My Village News 2019The Chronicle July 2007The Courier Mail 28th of August 2006"A time to Listen, A Time to Speak Out" Ken Green 2006Australian Art Collector July 2006Art Almanac August 2006Art Almanac July 2006Gatton Star February 2006ABC Television "Stateline" 19th and 20th of August 2005Felicity Mason "Arts for Arts Sake" August 2005Redcliffe Herald April 2005Australian Art Collector April 2005Sassy Magazine October 2004MacIntyre Gazzette October 2004The Gympie Times 7th of July 2004Peter Dobe Composes "Shorelines" for the "Shorelines" Exhibition Gympie Flute and electronic July 2004Fassifern Gaudian 9th of April 2004Rim FM Margaret Opperman April 2004News Mail Bundaberg 27th of January 2004News Mail Bundaberg 24th of January 2004News Mail Bundaberg 16th of January 2004Coastline Tourist January 2004The Arty Farty Show 21st of January 2004Sea FM 93.1 January / February 2004My Village News 2019Northern News 2006Art Almanac 2003Fox Galleries 2006ABC Radio Wide Bay January 2004Eyeline Calendar 2004Half Arts Noosa Community Radio November 2003Noosa News 5th of December 2003Noosa News 7th of August 2003Hervey Bay Observer 28th of January 2003Antiques and Art in Queensland November to March 2002 to 2003 editionBrisbane News 7th August 2002Whats Hot Sunday Mail 18th of August 2002Hervey Bay Observer May 2002Art and Antiques in Queensland July to November edition 2002Life Magazine Courier Mail Saturday April 20th 2002Interviews, Connections and Conversations2025 July 15 Interview with Brad Sparkie and Glen Smith A Sound Like Rain'2025 March 5 Interview with West Bremer Radio 2025 Interview with. Glen Smith Ipswich Tribune 2024 24th of June Interview with Noosa.Radio with Maxine Stibbe Broadcast Live Australia Wide2024 May. Interview with Bronwyn Holm about the new book "Kathmandu Taxi'202414th of March . Letter from Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner about the Marion Barter Postcards.2024 January. Meets with Sally Leydon to discuss help and directions with fund raising to discover more of the path that Marion Barter ( The Lady Vanishes) took before disappearing without a trace more than 27 years ago.2023 31st of December New years eave Meeting and discussions with Professor Boonchuay Doojai, Visiting Lecturer, MCU, Chiang Mai and Dr Chitchanok Tupthai, MA English, CMRU, Phd Buddhism, MCU CM Chiang2023 July. Heading North Interview with Nittaya Inphirut20226th of June. Letter from Prince Charles about the Tide Line book.2021 23rd of November, Letter from Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner about the Tide Line book.2004 22nd of January News Mail Bundaberg2004 January Australian Broadcasting Corporation Wayne Shearman Wide Bay2003 August The Arty Farty Show Noosa Community Radio2003 November Half Arts Vanessa Brown Noosa FM 101.3Books"A Sound Like Rain' ISBN 979-8-89660-983-4  2024"Heading North" ISBN 979-8-89184-849-8 Release date 10-10-2023“Undercurrent. The Other Brush Twenty Years Later.' 2023 ISBN 979-8-89184-596-1“The Art of Don Hill” Contemporary works 2002 - 2006" First edition 2023 ISBN 978-1-64713-946-9"Changing Perspectives’ 2021 ISBN 978-1-63848-509-4“Tide Line” third edition 2021 ISBN 978-1-64826-235-7“Remnant” second edition 2022 / 2023 ISBN 978-1-64713-493-8“Tide Line” second edition 2020 ISBN 978-1-64826-235-7“Rainmaker” 1st Edition 2019“Accelerator” 2019 ISBN 978-1-64606-420-5“A Shifting Tide” 2020 ISBN978-1-64786-877-2"A time to Listen, A Time to Speak Out" Ken Green 2006"Footsteps of the Fools" 2002 - 2023 ISBN 0-646-46269-5 Release to be announced‘Kathmandu Taxi’ 2024 ISBN979-8-89443-911-2CollectionsState Library of QueenslandNational Library of AustraliaIpswich City LibraryBrisbane City Council LibrariesParliamentary Library of QueenslandState Library of New South WalesParliamentary Library of New South WalesFaculty of Art, Chiang Mai University ThailandParliamentary Library, Parliament House, Canberra ACTChiang Mai University LibraryUniversity of Port Harcourt Library NigeriaAurora University Library , Illinois, United StatesBrigham Young University Library , United StatesPainting and Sculpture Collections: Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra United States SwitzerlandHistorical Information2024 “Kathmandu Taxi” ISBN979-8-89443-911-22024 Revisits his past experiences in Far North Queensland and commences work on the Oasis book and set of paintings of the same title.2023 Meets with Professor Boonchuay Doojai, Visiting Lecturer, MCU, Chiang Mai and Dr Chitchanok Tupthai, MA English, CMRU, Phd Buddhism, MCU CM Conversation about the changing face of modern art and how Heading North came about. Presents several books for the Chiang Mai University Art Faculty.2023 "Undercurrent' ISBN 979-8-89184-596-1 New book with works using sustainable materials such as Bamboo and Banana Trunk.This book is a Supplement to The Art of Don Hill, Contemporary Works 2002 to 20062023 "Heading North' ISBN 979-8-89184-849-8 A new book with new adventures Released November 20232023 The Art of Don Hill / Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006 ISBN 978-1-64713-946-92021 Changing Perspectives / ISBN 978-1-63848-509-42020A Shifting Tide / ISBN 978-1-64786-877-22020Tide Line / ISBN 978-1-64826-235-72019 Starts the Tide Line project with Dr John Dahlsen 2019Don Hill Contemporary 2002 to 2006 / ISBN 978-1-64713-946-92019The Rainmaker / ISBN 978-1-64713-493-8 2019‘Accelerator” / ISBN 978-1-64606-420-52018 Starts work on the Accelerator book2017Writes Don Hill “About Seascapes” 2017 first edition (unpublished)2017 Writes “Amphora” Part 1 (unpublished)2016 2017 Establishes “The Teak House Studio" in Chiang Mai Thailand.2015 Discovers the field of Debris at Bruce Bay New Zealand2008 / 2009 Travels Thailand collects material for new body of work2008 Travels to India and Nepal. Formulates ideas, sketches and photography for “Siddhartha’s Land”2008 “Vipassana” Goes solo mountain bicycle riding in Nepal, the Himalayas and Mustang2007 2008 Writes "Kathmandu Taxi' during the Nepal Civil War and Deposition of the King2007 Mountain Hill Station Stay in Darjeeling2007 Travels to New Zealand for the first time and takes his favourite Repco mountain bike. Re assembles it at Christchurch Airport then rides South looking for the Southern Alps.2006 Starts writing the book “Straight out of London” ISBN 0646462695 ISBN 97806464626912005 Represented Marie Mizon Gallery Paddington Sydney2004 Starts work on the “Rainmaker” project2003 Works on solo exhibitions through the regional gallery circuit2000,2004 Represented Fox Galleries Brisbane1997 Travels in Thailand1991-92 Involved in Group exhibitions for the Endeavour Foundation1990 Residence at Metro Arts Brisbane1990 Commissions for James Penny Interiors Brisbane1990 Represented Hang Ups Gallery Brisbane1990 Group Showing Queensland Art Gallery Grey Street South Brisbane1988/91 Becomes involved in several group exhibitions in Australia and Japan1989 Certificate of Merit Logan Art Award1976 RNA Highly Recommended for Still Life1975 Returns to Australia via Bombay and Singapore.1975 Stays the remainder of time in the UK with sculptor Stuart Williamson at 16 Belsize Crescent11975 Arrives back in London without enough money to catch the tube back to 16 Belsize Crescent1975 Travels Yugoslavia1975 Hitch hikes throughout southern and central Europe.1974″Magic Bus” three days in hell to Greece1974 Lives, works and paints in London in Belsize Village during IRA bombings1974 Settles in 16 Belsize Crescent North London1974 Travels to and hitch hikes Wales, Scotland and Orkney Islands.1974 Stays with Carl Groszmann (deceased) at Tittenhurst Park Studios while he writes and records “A Dose of Rock and Roll”,1973 Purchases Bicycle and rides it from London to Lands End in Cornwall in Ugg boots.1973 Arrives in London.1973 Sees Frank De Silva and Arch Graton alive for the very last time1973 Field Trips to Boonah and the Scenic Rim with Frank De Silva1973 Encouraged and inspired by Arthur Evan Reid to travel to Europe and England to undertake further studies inmodern and traditional art1972 Has day classes with Merven Moriarty at “Garowie” 59 White Hill Road Residence and Adelaide Street Brisbane.1972 First Prize: Ipswich Open Art Prize for Portraiture (portrait of Shane)1972 First Prize: Ipswich Open Art Prize for Still Life1972 Water Colour Technique and characteristics with Charles Ludlow

Kathmandu Taxi Due for release early 2025
Extract from "Kathmandu Taxi'  ISBN 979-8-89443-911-2 



Release 2025 (Fiction) But is it True?
All text and Images are copyright and the property of Don Hill. No text or images may be copied or used without the express permission of Don Hill. Copyright 2024.
Any references to people living or deceased is only coincidental.


Yesterdays Tomorrow

The Northern Winter had arrived and thoughts had turned
to Yak Butter Tea and whirling snowdrifts.
An idea had crossed Owen's mind as he was thinking of
absolutely nothing.
The thought of tramping through deep snow after leaving
Jomsom and heading further North to Loh Manthang.
At least he would have apples to nourish him on this, an
unpredictable journey.
He would be following the ancient traders from India
that had plied this trail for years to reach the Silk Route
to China.
Although Mustang was considered to be a dry region it would still
snow and the minus temperatures could not be underestimated
in it’s deadly form although even in blizzard conditions
there was a Nepal Ice, Everest Lager or some Raksi at the
end of the road which was indeed some comfort.
Owen's friends suggested that he travel to Lukla and hike
or take a mountain bike to base camp but he knew
it would look very crowded as opposed to where he
wanted to head to this time.
It was like the Queen Street Mall on any morning except
for the piles of rubbish that had been left behind by
locals and visitors alike.
Even though the attitude on this topic had changed and there
was as concerted effort to clean up the mess so to speak non
biodegradable items were still a problem.
Then came visions of Brian from Esk near Ipswich in Queensland
calling out for help as he held on for dear life at the edge of
the West Ridge of Everest and was eventually swept off.
It was as if his ghost was still there encouraging visitors
to join him at the bottom of a 2000 metre drop off
frozen in the snow and ice.
It is believed that Brian had died on his 28th Birthday in October
1984 while he was searching for his colleague Craig
on that Ridge.
This was not necessarily the case as there had been unconfirmed
sightings and reports of Brian in Lhasa in Tibet.
Some of the reported sightings held photographic evidence that
he was still alive.
Although a little blurry.
If this was the case why hadn’t he travelled back to Australia to
see and let his family know he was still on mother Earth.
The story was that he had been pretty banged up from his fall
but had got entangled in an avalanche and landed in soft snow
at the bottom of the drop, but barely survived.
A group of travelling monks had found him and brought him
back from the brink of death back into the land of the living.
Then the Chinese government had declared him an unknown
alien and kept him at their leisure in prison in Lhasa for couple
of years until they decided he was a bit weird because of the
exposure he had and then let him go into the local community on
his own volution.




The Art of Don Hill Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006.  An Overview.



"A Survival Story’ (Yuliana Kusumastuti 2022)

"The road that led me to Nudgee Beach was totally accidental and unexpected as well as never planned. This was an unwelcome journey that became the ending of one and the beginning of new one that eventually led to fresher things but at that time doubt and uneasiness had set in" - Don Hill 2022

I parked my car early one morning by Nudgee beach, walking barefoot I could feel the grass and then the grey sand while chirping birds followed me all the way.This was my first time in the area, but it didn't take long for me to notice the peaceful and serene qualities of the place.Nudgee beach is a place that has great meaning for him, as from this place more than two decades ago, he found himself loving art, creating art and to this day continues to explore ideas and his craft.
Nudgee beach therefore becomes the starting point for my own explorations to understand the ideas of Don’s artworks.
As I continued walking on the beach, I began to think about how my experience of a peaceful beach can mean something so different to his and thought perhaps his series exploring bamboo could provide some insight to his past, the beginning of fresh starts, ideas and his journey.
I had the opportunity to meet him in person a year ago in 2021 at the exhibition "Tide Line "in Tenerife, Brisbane.
He and environmentalist artist John Dahlsen collaborated in an elegant exhibition which included a book.
John Dahlsen exhibited his recent art and research of waste material from the beach alongside Don displaying a set of photographic limited edition prints observing the local environment at Nudgee Beach and Bruce Bay in New Zealand.
A point. A beginning.

The Art of Don Hill Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006.  The Desert Beach Works 

For Don the beach and its environmental qualities provided him both the starting point of his conceptual explorations and oftentimes the medium to bring his ideas to life as he collected and incorporated discarded items found on the shore like timber, wooden pallets and vinyl to his art.
Hills interest in the relationship between nature and human interaction in his artworks exploring how humans often determine the life and growth of nature and how the life of organic materials have the opportunity to be recycled and renewed. This is how his interest in Bamboo started and continues today.
He would drive to locations where he knew there were clumps of growing bamboo and wait for the council harvest to eventuate, with council or rather human intervention determining the life cycle of nature under the guise of maintenance to control the inherent rapid growth of this substance. The bamboo he would collect during these harvests mainly consisted of bamboo of the decorative yellow and green streaked variety. Rather than allowing council to dispose of the bamboo Don Hill through his art would recycle and provide it with new life.
I particularly enjoy his works on bamboo, "Night at the Beach', "Sucking Neptune" and "Night Crawl". Those pieces expressing joyful and bold colours. "Night at the Beach", dominated by bright red, and "Sucking Neptune" and "Night
Crawl", are expressing bold fluorescent and bright yellow colours. Using gold leaf and acrylic paint, the works he has created between 2005-2006 are powerful. The composition of his works during this time are 'contented', yet at the same time one can feel the irregular dimensions of bamboo, the roughness of their cut and their arrangement hiding the real story which is
namely the process Don Hill explored in creating the finished composition.
The Bamboo plant is a unique plant, known for its qualities of structural strength while being flexible, a durable plant surviving the wind and bad weather yet easy to grow. For Hill, it's a challenge to work on a hard substrate on which to apply acrylic paint and gold leaf, becoming the main medium. All of the works of this time rely on a spontaneity and lack of thought about composition. This is the way he responds to the strength and durability in Bamboo to 'heal' his negative energy. His intuition keeps his mind free when making art. His intuitions drive where or how to place pieces or paint to achieve regulated design and acceptance. This randomness is apparent in most if not all the works. If there is such a formula to his intuitive process it would be a composition formula that follows a guiding light of the subconscious will.
I asked Don the question of what his decisions or thought process is when incorporating colour into his work.
He states that colour is an individual thing and he used it to hide some of the desperate times that happened on the journey that the bamboo pieces depict.
Leaving some areas of unpainted bare bamboo to show through as a background.
Furthermore, he explained that he was exposed to and inspired by the impressionists works when he lived in Europe.
When I look at Hill's bamboo art, I often perceive themes of memory, the journey and loneliness, when I asked him if these themes are present in the pieces his response followed.



About the Art of Don Hill 

The works described are organic manifestations and an extension of himself taken from nature with an undercurrent of visual beauty using gold leaf and colour to remind the viewer that there is still beauty in the world regardless of the times we live in.
He states that the practice of using bamboo was an accident in waiting and he cannot explain why it came about but it did.
"It was in front of me as I awoke from my dreaming'.
This happened one early morning after a night of no result with non objective nonsense.
The "Process' stands apart and may seem random, careless and reckless but is also enjoyable as he stumbles and wanders on, still on the verge of creating something new.The Art of Don Hill is now available. 













A time when Gold Leaf ruled the Day and Night


The Art of Don Hill Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006.  Each piece became an individual Element in the Finished Art.

The Art of Don Hill Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006.  Another Late Night Epiphany had arrived. 


The Art of Don Hill Contemporary Works 2002 to 2006. "Yin Yang Mountain Top' Siddhartha's Land 




"Tide Line'  Don Hill and John Dahlsen an Overview 


Since then my arrival at Nudgee has become a morph of molten new experience with different titles and shots erupting from a new camera as well as more images taken with my battered old Fuji.Nudgee presents a Non Objective pallette which on a first encounter is hard to deal with and decipher.
A hieroglyphic composition or exquisite Pollock or Fairweather in disguise.
Which way should the subject be approached, contemplated, created, completed and presented.
This makes the subject matter difficult to deal with as well as progress on as an individual. It was abstraction at the very start and in some ways it still is even with the finished art. There had never been an attempt to set out to make definitive detailed pieces, only definitive art to encourage an emotive response from the audience.
The result is found in the following with most photos taken in the early morning at low tide with minimal interference and virtually no editing.



"Dancing with Matisse' Digital Print on Archival Paper signed and numbered 61 x 33 cm