On a tranquil afternoon on the shores of Magnetic Island, Peter Lawson can be found turning its sparkling waters and gently swaying palm trees into works of art.
The 77-year-old professional painter hauls his canvas and easel to his makeshift seaside studio every week, capturing the attention of passing visitors and locals.
His artistic career has led him to paint across Europe, America and outback Australia but the Townsville-born artist always finds himself returning to the scenery of north Queensland.
“Some of the inspiration that I still use today for my local pictures are from observations as a child,” Lawson said.
“I have been painting so much and been so excited by it that I can’t let it go, a bit like an old love.”
Fame in the family
A descendant of one of Australia’s most well-known bush poets, Lawson has spent more than 60 years capturing the landscapes that stirred the imagination of his great-uncle Henry Lawson more than 100 years ago.
Known for tales such as The Drover’s Wife and Up the Country, the writer is renowned for his literary portrayals of the men, women and children of colonial-era Australia.
Peter Lawson said he heard countless tales about his famous relative growing up and studied his writings at school, but it was not until he reached his 20s that his interest deepened.
“I had already realised I had a love of painting and drawing so I started to illustrate his writings,” Lawson said.
“I was reading the poem or story and waiting for however long it took to come up with a concept.”
By the age of 27, Lawson had published his first illustrated picture book of his great-uncle’s poems.
It would become the first of three publications he would create in Henry Lawson’s legacy.
“That was the first bit of income I got that convinced me I could go on with life as an artist,” Peter Lawson said.
On the road
The next chapter of his career involved nomadic travel across regional Queensland, painting scenes from Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Atherton, Cairns, Mackay and Charters Towers.
But a trip to Europe saw him lend his expertise to a different kind of art form — restoring a damaged piece from 17-century Dutch master Rembrandt bought at auction.
“After a career of feeling canvas and knowing the smell of every oil colour, you get very good at restoration,” Lawson said.
“I had to invent little tools to wind the canvas together to join a tear in the canvas so I could paint over it.”
Returning home
With no plans of retiring, Lawson runs a small gallery on Magnetic Island, his home for 50 years.
Gallery manager Katy Hinton said Lawson still paints on location three to four times a week, sometimes daily.
“He does seascapes, he does landscapes, we go out to western Queensland,” Ms Hinton said.
“We display everything from his current work to more of his historical works that he has done over a period of years.”
She said Lawson’s work was in demand by locals, visitors, and overseas clients.
“I think Peter will paint right towards the finish line … he is passionate and focused.”
Mentoring others
Working with other artists in the flourishing island community of creatives, Lawson has begun mentoring students.
The first lesson he teaches is one that continues to guide his own career.
“There is no better way than to leave your art teacher and go out to the beach every week and stand there and sit there and paint something,” Lawson said.
“The first time you go out to practise in public on location is when people are aware of you and say, ‘That person is an artist’.”