biography

Anthony A. Prout, a traditional watercolourist, was born in 1946 in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

After gaining a Fine Arts Degree, he left New Zealand for London to study at the Slade School of Art and to further his knowledge and love of European architecture. For many years he travelled extensively throughout Europe, drawing and painting, and dedicating himself to traditional methods of watercolour.

Since the early 1970’s he has lived and exhibited in many countries including England, Ireland, the United States and Australia. In late 1984 he arrived in Melbourne and introduced his work locally via the Victorian Artists’ Society Galleries, the Old Watercolour Society, and a studio in Camberwell. In 1987 the Elliot Newspaper Group commissioned him to paint an exhibition of works of Mildura and the surrounding districts. Anthony moved to Red Hill in 1988. From here he sent works to major galleries, both in Australia and overseas.

Anthony, who now works from his studio in Melbourne, says his real passion is for mediaeval architecture.

He has been painting professionally for over 35 years and believes the key to success is discipline. “Firstly, I believe you inherit some kind of talent, but you have to work hard at it. And because I love it, I paint at every opportunity.”

Interestingly, Anthony is a descendant of Samuel Prout (1783-1852), the foremost architectural watercolourist of his time and one of the first British painters to venture into the continent, alongside his friends William Callow, John Constable and John Ruskin.

Anthony believes both he and his ancestor have a similar style of painting and share a common love of architecture. Also they both use the same broken-line technique. “Samuel Prout struggled with perspective during his lifetime,” Anthony said, “which is something I have never had to struggle with.”

Anthony has won numerous art awards, including the prestigious Wellington National Gallery Art Award and in 1997, the Camberwell Rotary Art Show Urban Award.

His paintings also feature in corporate, private and public collections around the world, including the Santa Fe Arts Centre in New York.

Anthony loves travelling and continues to travel to Europe about every two years to sketch and collect inspiration for his watercolours. When time allows he looks forward to being able to capture the atmosphere and magic of Melbourne.