About

Nat Ward Australian Landscape Oil Works

Nat Ward is a landscape oil painter whose interests lie in exploring nuances and curiosities of the Australian bushland. Her latest series "Beautiful Scrublands' focuses on the gentle beauty of Nailcan Hill in Albury, where she often hikes. She is interested in the flora on a micro level, the contrasts that are at play, for example, broken dead foliage and the constant subtle renewal. She gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Canterbury University, majoring in painting. 

As testament to the quality and integrity of her work, she has been a finalist in many of the most notable and prestigious art awards in Australia, including The Hadley Art Prize, The Geelong Contempory, The Ravenswood Art Prize for Women and The Lethbridge Landscape Prize. This year alone she has won the John Villier Outback Art Prize and been a finalist in 5 Art prizes.

In 2024 she held a major exhibition at MAMA Public Gallery. "Noreuil" commemorated the historical link between Albury’s Noreuil Park and the French village of Noreuil during WWI. Her work is held in public and private collections in Australia and worldwide.

Commendations & Projects

2025 Finalist Milburn Prize for Landscape

2025 Finalist Omnia Art Prize 

2025 Finalist Lethbridge Prize for Landscape

2025 Winner John Villiers Outback Prize

2025 Finalist Flanagan's Art prize

2025 Finalist John Villiers Outback prize 

2024 Finalist Muswellbrook Art Prize

2023 Finalist KAAF Art Prize

2023 Finalist WAMA works on paper

2023 Finalist Ravenswood Art Prize for Women

2022 Finalist Regional Landscape Award

2022 Finalist Kangaroo Valley Art Prize

2022 Finalist Hadley's Art Prize for Landscape

2022 Finalist (gallery) Lethbridge small scale prize

2021 Finalist KAAF art prize Sydney

2021 Finalist Geelong Contemporary Art Prize

2020 Semifinalist KAAF Art prize

2020 Cover of Autumn edition, Royal Botanical Gardens 

2019 Singapore Art Fair, selected representation

2019 Winner, people's choice Waverley Art Prize

2019 Finalist Waverley Art Prize

2019 Selected artist for Wodonga Ephemeral Project

2018 Finalist John Leslie Award for landscape

2017 Winner Trinity Acquisitive Art Award

2016 Public art (central Albury substation)

2016 Finalist Pro Hart Outback Award

2016 Feature artist, Trinity art award

2015 Highly commended Hume Art Award

2014 Finalist Hume Art Award

2012 Highly commended Hume Art Award

2012 Winner people's choice (joint) Hume Art Award

2012 Selected artist, Wonga Wetlands Ephemeral Project

2012 Commended Chiltern Art Award 

Exhibitions

2024 MAMA Public Regional Gallery 'Noreuil' project

2024 Group show Grainger Gallery

2023 Solo show Manyung Gallery Malvern

2023 Rochfort Gallery group show

2023 Korean Cultural Centre 10 year anniversary group show

2022 Solo show Manyung Gallery Malvern

2022 Group show 'Interconnected' NERAM

2021 Solo show, Manyung gallery Malvern   

2020 Sydney Royal Botanical Garden 'Plants' group show

2019 Group show ‘Dolci’ Rochfort Gallery

2019 Two person show Manyung Gallery Flinders

2019 Solo show, Rochfort Gallery

2018 Group show ’Petals and Pods' Rochfort Gallery

2018 Group show 'Land and Sea' Rochfort Gallery

2018 Group show 'Whimsy' Rochfort Gallery      

2016 Solo show MAMA Albury