No tears in the bush: Neil Douglas
Neil Douglas was an artist deeply connected to the Australian bush. Committed to conservation, Douglas helped shape attitudes toward the protection of the natural environment and was awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to conservation and the arts.
Rejecting romanticised views of the landscape, his work portrays the bush as a harsh arena of survival, where life and death unfold without sentiment. His paintings capture this uncompromising realism, reflecting his belief that there are no tears in the bush.
Working en plein air, Douglas immersed himself fully in his surroundings, believing the bush to be a total sensory experience rather than a passive scene. His practice was grounded in direct engagement: to feel, inhabit, and ultimately capture the essence of the landscape. Through this approach, his work invites viewers toward a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Australian environment.
Douglas’s connection to nature was both intimate and unconventional. From an early age, he chose to go barefoot, believing his feet to be sensitive recorders of the textures and rhythms of the land. This heightened physical awareness is reflected in the immediacy and tactility of his work.
In addition to painting, Douglas was renowned for decorating earthenware vessels and ceramic sculptures.
Organised by Horsham Rural City Council
