FOR as long as Neil Herbert can remember, he has always had a passion for drawing.
But it wasn’t until after he retired that the artistic drive reignited, and he joined a small group of local artists and then the watercolour society.
For 45 years, Herbert spent his entire working life with Telecom, which was called PMG when he started, where he maintained the telephone exchanges and later transitioned into management.
Although no formal training, Herbert attended many workshops through the watercolour society with some top artists, where he was influenced by Joseph Zbukvic, and later with the likes of Greg Alan, Ross Paterson and John Lovett.
When asked what was his medium of choice,
Herbert was quick to reply with “watercolour”.
He likes the way it flows with great unpredictable outcomes.
Herbert states that good-sized quality cotton paper is a must, and his preference is Arches rough mostly, and good quality paints.
With a passion for the great Australian landscapes, Herbert loves to incorporate animals, old buildings and the great selection of our wonderful native trees.
A humble man, when asked if he has won any awards for his amazing artworks, he proudly shared that he had received a couple of first prizes through the Redlands Art Show and even had success through a Rotary painting exhibition.
This year see’s Herbert showcasing his talent with an entry into the 2026 Ritchies Boonah Arts Festival and we wish him the best of luck.
When asked why he paints, Herbert is quick to say he just loves being able to lose himself in a painting.
Turning 93 in October, he has been married to Shirley for almost 70 years.
An inspiration to all, Herbert has works on display and for sale in the Booval Fair Arts Connect Community Art Gallery.
