| Description |
Original Watercolour
Watercolour of Port Jackson Steamship Co. Paddle Steamer, "Narrabeen", heading
across Sydney Harbour to Manly in the 1890s. P.S. "Narrabeen" was built by Morts Dock
Engineering in 1883 and operated until 1911. (Unframed, painted 1988, signed lower left)
Picture size: 51 x 42cm
Frame size: 54 x 43cm
ARTIST: Phil Belbin.
Born in 1925, Beecroft, Sydney. He lived on Cremorne Point from the mid-1930s.
He began his illustrating career in 1939 (at 14 years of age).
In 1943, he enlisted with the RAAF and served, as an armourer, on various Islands including Moratai, Labuan and Noemfoor, until the end of the war in 1945. During his service he ventured out to capture, in watercolour, numerous scenes of the hostilities. His colleagues would later relate that he often put himself at considerable risk in doing so.
An artist, illustrator and cartoonist, his work is in collections, both private and
corporate, all over the world.
He was the first Australian to receive an award from the New York Illustrator's
society.
His clients included Hawker de Havilland, McDonell Douglas, The Royal Australian Navy (for whom he illustrated the 75th anniversary book), RAAF, Urban Transit authority, State Rail Authority, Union Pacific Railroad, British Railway Museum. Australian Academy of Science and many more.
In 1984 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.
His last "fine art" exhibition was at Artarmon galleries in 1989 which was opened by NSW Governor, Rear Admiral Sir David Martin. (Nearly all of the 52 paintings sold on the "preview" night before the exhibition opened).
Sadly, in 1993, at just 67, Phil succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease.
Office
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