Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc
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A BRIEF HISTORY

Picture
Lilian Pedersen
Picture
Mona Elliott
Picture
Frank Sherrin
Picture
Len Shillam
Four of the six founding members. The portrait of Mona Elliott is By Mavis Vernon. However, there is some conjecture about whether this portrait is Mona or Lilian. Some older members believe it is Mona whilst a relative believes it is Lilian. 

The Half Dozen Group of Artists, originally comprised six members of the Royal Queensland Art Society who broke away and formed their own group in 1940. The main advocate for the move seems to have been Lilian Pedersen. The other five members were Mona Elliott (the first chairperson), Frank Sherrin, Rosalie Wilson, Leonard Shillam and Ann Ross. Their first exhibition was held in the Randall Room at the Brisbane City Hall in 1941.  Although it has retained its traditional name of 'Half Dozen', it has for many years maintained between one and two hundred members. 

Through the nineteen-forties, fifties and sixties this nucleus of six artists was joined by a "younger generation" of aspiring artists, including Lloyd Rees, Margaret Olley, L. J. Harvey, Margaret Preston, Kenneth McQueen, Jon Molvig, Melville Haysom, William Robinson, Donald Friend, Vida Lahey, Daphne Mayo, Roy Churcher, Mervyn Moriarty and John Rigby. These artists were later to become some of the most recognised Queensland artists of our time.

Membership was initially restricted to a maximum of thirty-five. Artists wishing to join were accepted upon invitation and were expected to present a folio of work for adjudication. TODAY, the criteria for membership centres on an applicant's genuine desire to develop skill and understanding, and if possible, to participate in self-development through the weekly and other workshops provided. The applicant needs the nominations of two financial members and to be accepted by the Management Committee, although this may change at different times. The Group, with former Vice Regal Patronage (since its inception), now has a membership of well over a 100 artists, and is continuing to grow.

In 1975 The Half Dozen Group established its Studio in the "cellar" beneath the church hall of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point. This venue had been the stamping ground of many now well-known artists -  Irene Amos (a Vice Patron of the Group), Jon Molvig and Roy Churcher to name just a few. (See list below.) The build-up of impacted paint on one of the pillars of the building's foundation bears witness to the history of this studio. A booklet entitled "The Paint Tree" by Muriel Shaw can be viewed at the Fryer Library, Queensland University (The Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc., Box 11 Folder 10) and at the Queensland State Library, Art Heritage Section.  


HDG-Artists FIRST ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION was held in September 1941.

THE HDG-ARTISTS STUDIO
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37 Quarry Rd, Sherwood.
In October 2014 the HDGA moved to a permanent new home at 37 Quarry St, Sherwood. Prior to this last re-location, the group's studio was at Montrose, Consort St Corinda, (pictured below left). The group had occupied a long term studio (pictured below right) at St Mary's, Kangaroo Point between 1975 and 2011.  Since making the Quarry Street studio home, the HDGA has made significant upgrades to the studio, including professional lighting for the interior's work and exhibition area, exterior safety lighting and an anti-graffiti mural. 
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Consort St, Corinda, Studio
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HDGA artist, Harry Millner's painting of the Kangaroo Point Studio
Many well known Queensland artists have been members of the HDGA . Below are just some of those artists:
John ALAND                      
Irene AMOS                          
Alice BALE                                             
Ces BENNETT                                          
Vincent BROWN                                        
Nutter BUZACOTT                                    
Betty CHURCHER                        
Roy CHURCHER                                 
Margaret CILENTO                               
George Wilson COOPER                    
Vera COTTEW                                  
Maryke DEGEUS                                        
Donald FRIEND                               
Cyril GIBB                                             
Doreen HARRIS                           
Melville HAYSOM  


L.J. HARVEY                      
Gil JAMIESON                      
Hubert JARVIS                     
Vida LAHEY                         
George LUKE                        
Ada LUDLOW                      
Kenneth MacQUEEN            
Daphne MAYO

Jon MOLVIG                      
Hal MISSINGHAM                 
Winifred Mary TOWERS
Mervin MORIARTY                
Mary NORRIE                        
Daisy NOSWORTHY            
Margaret OLLEY                    
Margaret PRESTON



Betty QUELHURST
Lloyd REES
John RIGBY
William ROBINSON
Ann ROSS

Muriel Florence Snell SHAW
Jeannette SHELDON
Frank SHERRIN

Kathleen SHILLAM
Leonard SHILLAM
James WIENEKE
​
George WILLIAMSON

Rosalie WILSON


Life Members

Wendy ALLEN
Dell HARRINGTON
Charles LUDLOW  (Deceased)
Valerie WARING
George WILLIAMSON
​
Thomas YORKSTEN
Anna REYNOLDS

Copyright (C) The Half Dozen Group Of Artists Inc. 2009-2024
​ Last updated - 10.02.2024
​
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HDG-ARTISTS POLICIES
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MEMBERSHIP
    • NEWSLETTER
    • HDG-ARTIST POLICIES
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING
    • TUTORED WORKSHOPS >
      • Gel plate Renate Jacobi
      • Mixed Media with Tricia Reust
      • Fun with Acrylics
      • Flowers and Gardens Tricia Taylor Workshop
      • Watercolour Penelope Gilbert-Ng Workshop
      • Childrens Workshop Volcanos
    • WEEKLY CLASSES UNTUTORED
    • ANNUAL EXHIBITION
  • GALLERY
    • MEMBERS PROFILES
    • ARTISTS' WORK
  • CONTACT US
  • Untitled
  • New Page