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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Sketch on airline refuse bag #8

by Nicholas Harding

Sketch on airline refuse bag #8

ink on paper
Collection of Nicholas Harding and Lynne Watkins

Residents of Sydney, Harding and his wife Lynne Watkins travel repeatedly to the north coast of New South Wales, and often visit other places he’s keen to paint, such as the Flinders Ranges. In recent years, too, they’ve made many overseas trips, usually to see art galleries and particular exhibitions. While flying, Harding’s made scores of furtive drawings of his fellow passengers. They vividly evoke the alternate cosiness and tedium of air travel, as well as its occasional passages of nausea. The young man in close-up profile on the Jetstar bag is Harding’s son, Sam, whom his father’s been drawing since birth.

Nicholas Harding
(More information, View all 28 images)

Sketch on airline refuse bag #9
Sketch on airline refuse bag #10
Lynne Watkins asleep in Paris
Lynne asleep in Vienna

Related information

David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding
David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding
David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding
David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding

Through thick and thin

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2017

Sarah Engledow likes the manifold mediums of Nicholas Harding’s portraiture.
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)

Nicholas Harding

28 Portraits

Previous exhibition, 2017

Nicholas Harding: 28 portraits features paintings of Robert Drewe, John Bell and Hugo Weaving alongside gorgeously coloured recent oil portraits, delicate gouaches and bold ink and charcoal drawings.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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