Lyn Raymer studied fine arts at RMIT and Monash University in the 70s. She taught visual arts (International Baccalaureate) in Hong Kong, and later conducted drawing workshops in HK and Dubai. After 22 years of teaching, practicing art, and managing her own studio and gallery in HK, this expat is now based in Bendigo.
Drawing emerged as her chosen art form while teaching life-drawing. The sketch, the gesture and the long sustained drawing; all had a rightness. “I have become very interested in drawing. Drawings are without guile, without ego.” (Raymer, ‘Drawing Room’, South China Morning Post, 2003). This love of drawing came late, and at the same time an emphasis on figurative art emerged.
A large industrial space in FoTan Arts Precinct in Hong Kong provided the space and inspiration for the Sha Tin drawings. Lyn is currently working on this series of reductive charcoal drawings, using erasers to pull and push the figures from darkened backgrounds. These carefully observed figures move within crowds whose shapes are unfixed.
2023 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalist
2022 Swan Hill Print & Drawing Awards, finalist
2022 Omnia Art Prize, finalist
2022 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalist
2022 Muswellbrook Prize, finalist
2021 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, finalist
2021 BAM (Byron Arts Magazine) Art Prize, semi-finalist
2021 Gosford Art Prize, finalist
2021 Rick Amor Drawing Award, finalist
2021 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, finalist
2020 Gosford Art Prize, finalist
2020 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), finalist
2020 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalist
2020 Lyn McCrea Memorial Drawing Prize, finalist
2019 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalist
2019 Muswellbrook Prize, finalist
2019 Lyn McCrea Memorial Drawing Prize, finalist
2019 Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, finalist
2018 A.M.E. Bale Prize for Drawing, finalist
2018 Cambridge Gallery Portrait Prize, finalist
2017 Residency at The Art Vault, Mildura
2017 Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, finalist
2016 Paul Guest Drawing Prize, finalist
2016 Maldon Portrait Prize, winner of People’s Choice
Education
Diploma of Visual Arts RMIT (fine arts) and Monash University – 1976 (major: painting, minor: print-making)
Graduate Diploma of Education Monash University – 1977
Selected Exhibitions
2022 Omnia Art Prize, finalists exhibition, St Kevin’s College, Melbourne, VIC
2022 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2022 Muswellbrook Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Regional Art Centre, NSW
2021 Gosford Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Gosford Regional Gallery NSW
2021 Rick Amor Drawing Award, finalists exhibition, McClelland Gallery, VIC
2021 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, finalist exhibition, Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW
2021 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington, QLD
2021 Group exhibition, Every Artist Ever at the Stockroom Gallery, Kyneton, VIC
2021 Possum Gully Gallery, featured winter artist, via Maryborough, VIC
2021 Falkner Gallery, rotating exhibition, Castlemaine, VIC
2020 Gosford Art Prize, finalist exhibition, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
2020 Jacaranda Aquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) Exhibition, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
2020 Lyn Mc Crea Memorial drawing Prize, finalists virtual exhibition, Noosa QLD
2020 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Sydney
2019 Solo exhibition at Stockroom Gallery, Kyneton, VIC
2019 Lyn Mc Crea Memorial drawing Prize, finalists exhibition, Noosa QLD
2019 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Sydney
2019 Muswellbrook Art Prize, finalists exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2019 Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, finalists exhibition, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney
2019 The Long Summer Salon, Cascade Gallery, Maldon
2018 A.M.E. Bale Drawing Prize, finalist exhibition
2018 Solo exhibition at the Essoign Club, Melbourne
2018 Cambridge Portrait Prize, finalist exhibition, Cambridge Studio/Gallery, Melbourne
2017 369 Gallery, Bendigo
2017 Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, finalists exhibition, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney
2016 Paul Guest Drawing Prize, finalists exhibition, Bendigo Art Gallery
2016 Maldon Portrait Prize, (winner of People’s Choice)
2016 Drawing the Line, curated Jeff Makin, Arts Open-open studios, Castlemaine
2015 Detours, Castlemaine Arts Festival
2014 Fotanian Open Studios, Lyn Raymer studio, Fo Tan, HK
2013 Fotanian Open Studios, Lyn Raymer studio, Fo Tan, HK
2012 Fotanian Open Studios, Lyn Raymer studio, Fo Tan, HK
2010 Bastakiya Art Fair, curated by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel, Dubai, UAE
2010 Portait of a Generation, curated by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel, Dubai
2009 Made in Tashkeel, curated by Lateefa bint Maktoum,Tashkeel, Dubai, UAE
Collections
Gippsland Art Gallery
Gippsland Times Art Prize winner, judged by Dr Eric Westbrook.
Works held in private collections in UAE, Hong Kong, Australia
Curatorial projects
2002-2009
- Established 5 o.p.t studio / gallery, Hong Kong
- Curated and directed 57 exhibitions at gallery (www.5opt.com.hk)
- Member of HK Galleries Association
- One of the original galleries to participate in ArtWalk HK
- Enjoyed good regular press and represented in Asian Art News
- Committed to showing monthly shows
- Promoted established and emerging artists (primarily Australian)
- Enjoyed Australian Consul support
2002-2008
ArtWalk HK, C’tee member and curated 5 o.p.t. gallery participation
2008
Curated ‘The Shadow seems to say to me so’, Chiou Jyian-Ren,Taiwanese Consul
Teaching
2018-2019 Visual Art mentor, Academy of Creative Arts, Bendigo South East College
2012-2013 Life-drawing workshops at Fotan studio
2009-2010 Drawing workshops at Tashkeel, Dubai, UAE
1995-2007 Life drawing sessions 5 o.p.t studio/gallery, Hong Kong
1995-2007 Visual Arts teacher, IB, Chinese International School, HK
1978-1992 Secondary Arts teacher in Victorian Education system, Aus.
Personal Development and Practice
2017 Artist Residency at The Art Vault, Mildura
2014 Life-drawing sessions with Jeff Makin, mentor
2005 Attended a drawing conference, Sydney
2000 Attended the Adelaide Drawing conference
2000 Participation in a master drawing class in Adelaide