Ramon Ward-Thompson

Feature Artist - 2007 Portland Art Show

RAMON WARD-THOMPSON F.R.A.S. was born in Masterton in the North Island of New Zealand in 1941 and in his early years his interest in art was nurtured by his grandfather, artist Herbert Ward Thompson.

After completing his schooling at Scot’s College in Wellington, Ramon left New Zealand and spent four years in Europe and London, travelling and studying art, before making his home permanently in Australia.

In the early 1970’s Ramon decided to concentrate wholly on his art and it was at this time that he moved to Berrima in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales – a move that was to greatly influence his painting style. The soft misty light that is often to be seen in the Highlands was introduced into his paintings and today is a well-known and looked for feature in Ramon’s work. It was in these years that Ramon became known for his soft romantic interpretation of life in the Australian bush, often painting his own small daughters as they went about their daily chores of feeding the chooks or gathering firecones.

Ramon now lives and paints in Sydney and the love of his adopted city is evident in his portrayal of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding city area. Ramon brings to his studies of city life – the outdoor cafes, flower markets and old terrace houses the same soft study in light that has always been uniquely his own.

He also enjoys painting in the great cities of Europe and returns whenever possible to capture the softer European light against a background of old historic buildings and monuments.