Written by Chelsea McPherson
In the workshop on the bottom floor of Gavin Patterson’s house is where magic is created.
The Hervey Bay resident is well-known as a highly skilled architect, but Gavin has taken his drawing to another level after dabbling in watercolour sketching.
His passion for art started in 2018 while putting together his very own book entitled The Gables: Memories of a Grand Point Vernon House, and Other Stories.
However, a new art venture was started recently thanks to ideas from his granddaughter, who has a passion for birds.
Walking along the beaches of Hervey Bay every day, Gavin and his wife take photographs of everything they see, and many photos are birds.
“I was determined to do a series of sketches of birds for my granddaughter,” Gavin said.
These sketches are now not only for his granddaughter but are also the focus of an exhibition at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough, coinciding with the release of his book A Bird Memoir.
The gallery holds a special place in Gavin’s heart after he designed the gallery when it was converted from an old bond store.
“It’s a thrill for me to hold an exhibition in this gallery.”
While Gavin has been drawing all his life, encouraged by his father at an early age, being an architect gave him little time to work on art projects.
When asked why he chose the watercolour medium for this project, he explained that he has done some work in acrylic paint but finds watercolours more sensitive for bird sketches and perfect for a project such as A Bird Memoir.
Gavin Patterson’s A Bird Memoir exhibition will be held at the Gatakers Artspace from early December and his book of the same name will be launched concurrently.
The exhibition will showcase Gavin’s beautiful watercolour sketches of local birdlife and is a free event.