Growing up in an artistic household in East Malvern, Heather Wickstead was surrounded by creativity from an early age. As the daughter of renowned Australian artist Kenneth Jack, she was immersed in art from childhood, developing a natural sensitivity to colour, form, and the beauty of the everyday. Heather painted consistently through her schooling years and teachers college, before raising a family. While she produced the occasional portrait during this time, it was only eight years ago that she returned to painting with renewed focus.
Heather joined Ron Reynolds’ Thursday class initially to learn the foundations of oil painting—how to handle colour, mixing, and theory.
What began as an exploration of technical skill soon grew into a deep commitment to capturing the natural world around her. Her work is often inspired by the sea and the rhythms of the landscape, rendered in realistic colours that convey both atmosphere and emotion. Even the essence of a burn on her property has become a subject for reflection, transformed into painterly expression.
This exhibition marks Heather’s first public showing, a significant milestone in a lifelong journey with art—one that honours both her heritage and her own voice as a painter.
