Chronology

154 Chronology by Robert Preston

1942 1st January, I was born in Skipton, Yorkshire, to Kathleen Mary Preston (Nee Butler) of Blackheath, London and John Preston’s son of Maria Preston (Nee Butler) of Blackheath, London & John Preston son of Maria Preston (nee Marjuka Dans) of Galicia, Spain and Forrest Preston of Inverness, Scotland. Mother was evacuated from London during the ‘Blitz’ with her sister.

1944 Again, evacuated from London due to illness and shock following a ‘V2’ rocket attack and resulting damage to the family home: this time to Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire with my mother, aunt and cousin Ann.

1946 Return of my father from the Royal Navy.

1947 Attended Kelvin Grove primary school, South East London.

1949 First visits to galleries and museums with my mother during summer holidays. First family holiday at Birchington-on-Sea, Kent.

1953-54 Secondary school, first at Forest Hill Central; introduced to formal studies in art and music. Given a box of watercolours and began painting at home. A wonderful school to which I was well suited. Met Francesca Longchamps at Birchington-on-Sea.

1955 Won a scholarship to Haberdashers’ Aske’s, Hatcham London. A dry, boring institution, where the masters floated around in their academic robes like flocks of crows. Began learning to play the guitar.

1958-59 First visit to France, with Francesca Longchamps. Left school, drifting from job to job; from office work to labouring before enlisting in the ‘Royal Army Ordnance Corps.’

1960 Began military service in January. Began training in the freezing winter of 59-60 at Blackdown, Surrey. Sent to Cambridge hospital, Aldershot as the result of an influenza epidemic which swept through the entire camp. Sent to Bramley to train as an ammunition examiner/store man.

1961-64 Served in various munitions depots at home and overseas during without time I learnt the value of developing a good visual memory.

1964 Francesca Longchamps passed away. Set about raising the level of my general education and building a portfolio of work as a prelude to applying for a place at college of art. My brother Ilric was already enrolled at Goldsmiths Collage of Art where he had met and later introduced me to artists John Mansbridge, Betty Swanwick and the botanical illustrator John Norris-Wood whose studios we visited and whose influence was of great and enduring import. He and I also studied drawing part-time with

Gerry Hunt at the South London Institute. It was partly due to Hunt’s encouragement and recommendation together with that of Betty Swanwick that I gained entrance to the Camberwell School of Arts and Craft.

1965 Accepted onto the ‘foundation course’ where, among other tutors I was taught by Geoffrey Baker, Donald Jackson (calligrapher to the Queen) and the painter Euan Uglow – both of whom had an enduring influence on the direction and method of my work. Plein air classes with Chris Chamberlain were also under taken.

1966 Accepted onto the Diploma of Art and Design (Dip. A.D. Hons) at Camberwell. Among others I was taught by Euan Uglow, Mario Dubsky, Anthony Eyton and Tom Espley. Met and was tutored by Sargy Mann.

1967 Travelled to France and made my first trip to Spain with Patricia Hervey. Impressed by the magical architecture of Antoni Gaudi – the Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, etc. A rare and enlightening visit to Frank Auerbach’s studio in Camberwell.

1968 A second (painting) trip to Spain via France. Of note were visits to Figueres and Port Lligat. Home of Salvador Dali, Karl Faust Botanical Gardens, Blanes and Guell Park and Gaudi museum, Barcelona.

1970 Completed the Dip. A.D. Hons.

Married Patricia Hervey, at Brighton Sussex. A protracted sojourn in Germany and a visit to Austria.

1971 Undertook a diploma in art teaching (ATD) at Brighton Polytechnic/Sussex university.

Worked as a part-time freelance illustrator and designer with my brother and Patrica Hervey.

1972 First full time teaching post at Seldown Secondary Boys School, Poole, Dorset as Assistant Art Master. Part-time post graduate studies (not completed) at Bournemouth College of Art.

1973 Included in Artists of the South West, Poole Museum, Dorset, UK and the South London Gallery, London

Migrated to Australia with Pat. First appointment, Innisfail state high school as Assistant to the Art Subject Master. Tremendous shock both environmentally and culturally.

1974 Invited to teach for the Department of Technical and Further Education. Moved to Townsville to assist Jim Cox (from Queensland College of Art, Seven Hills) in setting up a new art and design course at the Townsville college of TAFE.

1974-75 Included in New Works, curated by Ralph Martin, the Martin Gallery, Townsville.

1975 Anneke Silver joined the staff part-time, and David Blackman arrived later that year from the College of Art, Seven Hills, to teach full time. As a result, the course was expanded and enduring friendships were formed with both artists.

1975-76 Study trips to Hong Kong the new territories and Thailand. The later left a deep impression as did the Han Tombs in Li Cheung. First meetings with John Coburn and Michael Johnson, with whom I worked (with others) on a large mural work for James Cook University student union refectory. At that time Michael was the artist in residence at the university.

1976 Included in Exhibition Highlights, curated by Norman Wilson, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

1976-77 Visits to Bali and Java with Pat. Both were influential and of great visual and cultural interest.

1977 Solo exhibition, Untitled, at the Martin Gallery, Townsville.

1978-79 James Brown joined the full-time staff in September. Study leave in the UK and first visit to Greece with Pat. Meetings with Ian Smith, David Paulson, Gordon Shepherdson and Ray Hughes.

1979 Included in New Abstraction, curated by Anna Bock, Civic Theatre Gallery, Townsville, the Martin Gallery, Townsville and Tonnoirs Fine Art Gallery, Townsville.

1980-81 Ron McBurnie and Jane Hawkins joined the fulltime staff. Study leave in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize with colleagues James Brown, Ron McBurnie, Jane Hawkins and wife Pat, our only Spanish speaker. Ron and I collaborated on a number of occasions eventually becoming close friends.

1981 Included in Recent Work, curated by Ralph Martin, the Martin Gallery, Townsville.

Included in Recent Work, curated by Paul Tonnoir, Tonnoirs Fine Art Gallery, Townsville.

1982 Included in Tie Exhibition, curated by Norman Wilson, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

1982-83 Study leave in Greece, Crete and Egypt with Pat, James Brown and Anneke Silver.

1983 Solo exhibition, Painted Myths, curated by Ralph Martin with Anna Bock, the Martin Gallery, Townsville.

1984-85 Included in Drawings x 4, travelling exhibition with Anneke Silver, Ron McBurnie and James Brown, curated by Norman Wilson; Perc Tucker Regional Gallery,

Townsville; Raintrees Gallery, Cairns; Noosa Shire Gallery, Tewantin; College of Art Gallery, Brisbane; Ipswich Regional Gallery, Gladstone Regional Gallery.

1985 Study leave to the UK, via Manama, Bahrain.

Later in the year visited rock art sites in the vicinity of Jowalbinna and the Laura River in cape York with guide Stephan Tresize and colleague Anneke Silver.

1986 Ross Searle was appointed as the new director of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. We developed a close working relationship and longstanding friendship. His encouragement and promotion of my work formed an influential component in my professional development.

Began classical guitar studies with Dave Roberts.

1987 Included in Tropical Visions, curated by John Millington, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville; the Centre Gallery, Gold Coast. Complemented with a significant publication.

1989 First survey exhibition, Robert Preston Survey, curated by Ross Searle then director Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Complemented with Significant publication. First meeting with the abstract painter Robert Hunter.

1990 Included in Recent Acquisitions: Works on Paper, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.

Included in Works on Paper: Eight Queensland Artists, Grahame Gallery, Brisbane.

Included in Post Euston Road: A Review of Contemporary Trends, Austin and Desmond Galleries, Gallery II, London.

Solo exhibition, Lost Songs of Eden, Tonnoirs Fine Art, Townsville.

Included in Dictionary of Australian Artists and Galleries by Max Germaine.

1990-91 Met English contemporary composer and polymath Dr. Edward Cowie.

Completed a Master of Creative Arts degree with him at JCU. Second meeting with John Coburn who was one of my examiners for ‘The Lost Songs of Eden’ exhibition - the practice component for the MCA, the practice component of the MCA. Seconded to the newly formed Australian Arts Fusion Centre (James Cook University) under the directorship of Prof. Edward Cowie in which time we became firm friends. He was also instrumental in furthering my creative development.

1992 Returned to my original position with (the TAFE) School of Arts and Design which had by that time moved over to James Cook University. Engagement to Asoka Nakandala in Manama, Battlerain.

Trip to the UK. First showing of works in London, by Austin and Desmond and in Japan, in Iwaki and Tokuyama.

Solo Exhibition, Between the Tides: An Exhibition of Works on Paper 1971-75, curated by Ross Searle, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville. Complemented with significant publication.

1992-93 Worked on a commission for the concourse on level 3, Outward Immigration of the then new Brisbane International Airport. The commission was to be realised in mosaic and was overseen by Battersby and Associates, by and associated of Sydney and Bligh Voller Architects, architect of Brisbane.

Took classical and jazz studies jazz guitar studies with Dave Roberts for a second time.

1993 Robert and Asoka’s son Adrian is born.

1994 Included in Collecting in the Tropics, curated by Ross Searle, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville. Included in Lyre Bird Press, curated by Tate Adams and Ron McBurnie, Lyre Bird Press, James Cook University, Townsville.

1995 Included in Muse, curated by Chris Downie, Umbrella Studio, Townsville.

Included in New Brisbane International: Federal Airports Corporation (selected group exhibition), curated by Dr Jean Battersby, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

1997 Recommended to undertake PhD studies with Proof. Diana Davis. Study leave Tokyo (The Japan Australia Foundation) and the UK with wife Asoka and son Adrian. Offered a post at Darlington College, UK.

1998-99 The Strand Redevelopment Project: a pavement mosaic installation opposite the entrance to Gregory Street, commissioned by Townsville City Council. To assist in amenatization of the Strand.

1999 Included in The Permanent Collection Reviewed, curated by Robyn Walton, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

2000-01 Two solo exhibitions; the Mixing of Memory with Desire as practical components towards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (James Cook University). First at the Customs House UQ, Brisbane, curated by Ross Searle and hen by Francis Thomson at the Perc Tucker Regional Galley.

2003 Study trip to the UK with wife Asoka and son Adrian.

Publication of ‘Communion to the Trees’ by Palgreave Macmillon Art Publishing, Melbourne, an initiative put forward by Francis Thomson and realised but Proof. Jenny Zimmer.

2004 Took early retirement from James Cook University due to ill health.

2005-06 Awarded a PhD in creative arts. First showing of work at the Gimberland gallery, Nashville. Managed the restoration and reinstallation of 16 pieces of sculptures as a part of the newly restored interior of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Townsville.

Acquired my first decent guitar a Jose Ortega a venetian cutaway.

2009 Included in Now and then – 150 years of art making in north Queensland, curated by Ross Searle. Works commissioned by Searle for the exhibition references pieces by wellknown Australian artists who had worked here (in the north) in the past. The war time watercolours of aircraft by Frank Hinder were my selected reference images.

With Ron McBurnie’s encouragement I took up plein air painting again – something I had not undertaken in a very long time. In the years that followed we painted at a number of locations in Townsville, many of which included views of and across the Ross River. Not only Not only did I derive a great deal of pleasure from our excursions, conversations, critiques and the often amusing encounters with the passers-by but it also got me out of the studio.

2016 Included in Images of an Era: The Martin Gallery, curated by Dr Anneke silver and Eric Nash, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Complemented with a significant publication.

Included in Celebrating Townsville: the City’s Visual History Drawn from the James Cook University Art Collection, curated by Ross Searle, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville. Complemented with a significant publication.

2017 Discussions commenced with Dr Jonathan McBurnie, then Director or Umbrella Studio, for plans of a major retrospective.

2018 Included in Commentary: Hand-Printed Posters from North Queensland Artists, curated by Sheree Kinlyside, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville.

2019 Included in Utopia Tropicae: Spirit of the North (group exhibition), curated by Jonathan McBurnie and Lucy Belle Tesoriero, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville. Complemented with a significant publication.

2020 Included in 50 Treasures: Celebrating 50 years of James Cook University, curated by Bronwyn McBurnie, drawing from works in the JCU Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo libraries Special Collection. Complemented with significant publication.