2025 Commissioned Works  

Peter Harold Matthews

Peter Harold Matthews was born in Mannum but lived his life in and around Victor Harbor, South Australia. 

Peter was the first president of the Southern Districts Arts Society. They had night classes at the school and displayed their artworks together on the lawns at Warland Reserve.

Forty six years ago, another of this collegiate group Alfred Engel became the Founder of the Rotary Art Show held on Warland Reserve.

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

During the mid-sixties, Peter became a foundation member of the new Southern Districts Art Society that formed in Victor Harbor. During this time of new prosperity, many people were showing an interest in the arts. The Victor Harbor council was approached and permission was gained for local artists to begin exhibiting their works at Warland Reserve.

Peters paintings using oils with a palette knife, were much admired and sold well at these weekend exhibitions. He began painting professionally, selling his works both locally and interstate, and exhibiting at the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

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. 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.

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

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.