Barry McCann

Barry McCann was born in Armidale NSW and is a full time artist, who along with his wife Lucy, run McCann Fine Art.

Until recently, Barry painted exclusively in watercolour, being introduced to the medium of watercolour in 1990 at a course at the Canberra School of Arts. He has studied with many leading artists in the field and their influence and support have been instrumental in his art. A traveling experience to Great Britain and Europe in early 2006 was the catalyst for experimenting in other mediums. As a result he is now painting mainly with oils.

He has participated in numerous group exhibitions, and annually in a joint exhibition with Lucy McCann. Their most recent titled “Evolving Views” at New England Regional Art Museum in 2008. They were also “Artist’s in Residence” at N.E.R.A.M in early 2009.

Barry and Lucy produce and teach art at their studio in Armidale NSW, and are often asked to teach, demonstrate and judge throughout the region by Art Groups and Societies. They are regular teaches at the Mitchell School of Arts in Bathurst NSW, the Summer Art Experience, Canberra ACT, and the NZ Art Schools in Wellington and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Barry has exhibited with the Australian Watercolour Institute 2001, 2003, and has been published in the Australian Artist magazine (issues 164, 214 and 275 feature artist) and the Artist’s Palette magazine (issue 24 and 59 feature artist). He has won numerous awards for his art with some of the most recent being;

• 2008 finalist The Archibald Prize – The Art Gallery of NSW
• 2008 finalist The Turf Monthly Equine Art Prize
• 2008 best of show – The Mortimore Prize
• 2008 finalist The Kilgour Prize – Newcastle Region Art Gallery
• 2008 finalist The Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize
• 2007 Highly Commended Gold Edition Equine Prize
• 2007 Highly Commended in rural subject/landscape Sydney Royal Arts Show
• 2006 finalist Australasian Turf Monthly Equine Art Prize
• 2005 finalist Hazelhurst Art Award – Art on Paper Sydney
• 2004 second prize for watercolour – Sydney Royal Easter Show
• 2004 finalist- Shirley Hannan Portrait Awards
• 2004 winner - Forsyths Farmgate Art Exhibition Acquisitive
• 2003 winner- Gwydir Art Prize Acquisitive