Born in Brighton, Melbourne in 1949, Celia Perceval is primarily a self-taught painter. She developed her inspiration for drawing and painting in the artistic environment created by her parents, Mary Boyd and John Perceval, and first exhibited at the age of sixteen.
1963 Travelled with her parents by sea to England, Visiting ports such as Ceylon (India), The Red Sea and Europe. Celia’s youthful experiences of different cultures and landscapes has had an everlasting effect on her drawing and painting.
1965 The family returned to Australia and Celia often painted with her father in the bush around the ACT.
1966 She exhibited her work for the first time in Canberra at the age of 16 years.
1967 Celia married and moved back to London where her son Timothy was born.
1968 She went to live and work in the small village of Tourrettes sur Loup in the South of France.
Here she made hundreds of drawings of the village people (some pieces were later exhibited at the Cremorne Gallery, Sydney). Celia then moved to a tiny hamlet in northern Italy to draw the people and landscape of the area. Although she spends much time painting in countries such as France, Italy, England, Ireland, Wales and India, she continually makes trips back to Australia as she maintains a deep affection for the bush that shaped her childhood.
1971 Moved back to London.
Exhibited first solo exhibition at the London Hilton Art Gallery.
Exhibition of drawings and paintings at the Cremorne Gallery, Sydney.
1972 Exhibited at Cremorne Gallery, Sydney.
1973 Returned to Australia.
Exhibition at Australian Galleries, Melbourne.
Travelled for 18 months on a painting trip around Australia.
1975 Exhibition at Bonython Gallery, Sydney.
1976 Exhibition at Australian Galleries, Melbourne.
Returned to Europe visiting many countries including Thailand, Afghanistan, Nepal and Turkey.
Settled in Wales where she built her studio from 17th century ruins. Celia was based there for twelve years whilst painting throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, but continuing to make regular painting trips back to Australia.
1977 Exhibition at Phillip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane.
Armidale City Art Gallery, New England.
1978 Exhibition at The Marches Gallery, Wales
1979 Exhibition at Australian Galleries, Melbourne
1980 Exhibition at Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney.
Exhibition at the Abercrombie Gallery, Melbourne.
1983 Exhibition at the Qantas Gallery, London.
1983 Exhibition at the Qantas Gallery, London.
1984 Exhibition at the Abercrombie Gallery, Melbourne.
1986 Exhibition at Boarder Arts Festival, Wales.
1987 Exhibition at Boarder Arts Festival, Wales.
Painting trip to India and throughout Australia.
1988 Returned to live permanently in Australia. Celia has travelled extensively to paint the Australian bush, often setting up camp in remote areas such as The Sterling Ranges in Western Australia, the Flinders, Ranges in South Australia and the Gulf and Cape areas of Queensland. She believes that painting ‘on the spot’ enhances the effect of the painting, capturing the light and atmosphere of the landscape.
1990 Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
1991 Moved temporarily to Newcastle.
Exhibition at Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
1992 Moved to North Queensland.
Exhibition at Gould Galleries, Melbourne.
1993 Exhibition at Gould Galleries, Melbourne.
Exhibition at Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney.
1995 Exhibition at Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney.
1996 Exhibition at Gould Galleries, Melbourne.
1997 Celia built her studio in the hill on the Sapphire Coast where she now lives and works.
1999 Exhibition at Galleria Aniela, Kangaroo Valley.
Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
2002 Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
2004 Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
2006 Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
2007 ‘Australian Vision, Irish Landscape’ The Norman Gallery, Ireland
2009 Exhibition at Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney 8th Aug- 3rd Sept
1966 Civic Gallery, Canberra.
1979 New South Wales House, London. The Marches Gallery, Wales.
1981 Qantas Gallery, London.
1982 Convent Gallery, Daylesford.
1983-87 Border Arts Festival, Wales
1988 Wilderness Society Exhibition, Melbourne.
1991 Australian Art in Hong Kong
1991-2010 ‘Australian Landscape Painters’, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
2005 ‘The Boyd family’ Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
‘The Christmas Show’ Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney.
2006 “Modern Australian Paintings”, Bridgett McDonnell Gallery, Melbourne
Bendigo Regional Art Gallery; New England Regional Art Gallery; Armidale City Art Gallery; Croft Castle, Shropshire, England
Australia, England, Ireland, France, Portugal, Hong Kong, Japan & the Americas
Receive e-mail updates on our exhibitions, events and more
Subscribe Now
