2025 Exhibition    

Peter Harold Matthews

Peter Harold Matthews was born in Mannum but lived his life in and around Victor Harbor, South Australia. His work was  sold  locally and interstate, and exhibited at the Adelaide Festival of Arts. He was a foundation member of the Southern Districts Art Society in Victor Harbor as well as arranging for  local artists to begin exhibiting their works at Warland Reserve. 

The Rumbelow and Ewen Portraits (below) were commissioned and bequeathed to the City of Victor Harbor by Mr Peter Matthews in the 1980's. They were painted by William Needs and Peter’s younger son, Andrew. Peter believed it was important to capture their lives on the sea of these outstanding personalities and commissioned the twelve portraits to the City of Victor Harbor.

He wrote ‘I offer the portraits so that they may be safeguarded and exhibited from time to time – when hopefully Victor Harbor will have a gallery of its own and that I ask for no remuneration. It is just something that I thought worthwhile of the men portrayed and who lost their lives at sea."

John Ford OAM 

John Ford OAM arrived in Australia from the UK after serving 18 years in the Royal Air Force.  He served in two areas of conflict, the Middle East and Northern Ireland.  

John's work displays the subtle hues and intricate detail of the watercolour style.  While his works are substantially based on maritime themes, his portfolio also includes historical buildings,  steam locomotives, military  subjects and animals. With numerous exhibitions and art awards to his credit, John is one of South Australia’s leading marine artists. 

In 2021 John was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for Services to the community of Port Adelaide.

Alfred Engel

Alfred was born in Austria and immigrated to Australia in 1973. In 1975 he was granted Australian citizenship and now resides in Victor Harbor, SA.

Since 1974 Alfred has been a professional artist. In 1980 he traveled to New York to study with Professor Robert Hale at the “Art Students League“.

In 1988 Alfred was appointed by the Minister for the Arts to the advisory committee and the management committee of the Central Regional Cultural Authority and to the Board of the Regional Cultural Council SA, where he served until 1992.

Alfred works in oil, egg tempera and watercolor. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of SA, Past president of the Southern District Art Society SA, and a foundation member of the Ocean Street Art Society.

He has staged a number of solo exhibitions in Melbourne, Adelaide, Southport QLD and Victor Harbor and has received many important honors. 

Glenn Irvine

Glenn Irvine is an artist, teacher, husband, father and grandfather, business owner and much valued member of the Victor Harbor Art Society.

From early childhood, Glenn had always had the desire to be an artist, rather than work for family’s transport business.

Fortunately, Glenn‘s mother was happy to encourage him and took him to exhibitions and performances during the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

On arrival in Victor Harbor Glenn met Chris Matthews and started exhibiting watercolour artworks on Warland Reserve on Sundays.

Chris and Andrew Matthews’ father was Peter Matthews, a well known landscape artist and one of the founders of the Southern Districts Art Society.

“Peter showed me the basics of oil painting, but he would not teach, he would do a little colour sketch in oils and send me away to practice until he gave me another one to copy,” Glenn recalled.

At this time Alfred Engel was painting egg tempura artworks, Peter and Alfred were great friends and as time progressed Alfred, Chris and Glenn grew their friendships within the “bond of art” and the art community.

“Our children all grew up together and have remained lifelong friends,” Glenn said.

After 10 years at the bank, Glenn bought Yilki Picture Framers from Andrew Mathews who was keen to pursue his love of painting.

The business was in the yards of the Yilki Farm. Peter Matthews’ studio was in the adjoining room and Peter would be at his easel most days.

Yilki Picture Framers moved to Maude Street as the business grew.

Glenn framed for many of the growing art community, attended classes and workshops to enhance his own love of painting and conducted many exhibitions over the years.

Glenn started teaching basic techniques in oil and acrylic painting and travelled to many country art groups, conducting workshops.

In recent times Glenn, a much-valued contributor to ‘The Collective’ provided the now named Victor Harbor Art Society with historical information about the foundation of the society.

Glenn has a studio in Encounter Bay where he works with his wife Francey and some of their aspiring artist grandchildren.