Through the Trees

Annette Peterson, born in Stavanger, Norway, is a practice-led oil painter who has both studio and plein air approaches to her practice. She utilises photography and painting techniques to facilitate both realistic and impressionistic style landscape paintings. Peterson, who grew up in Perth, is most influenced by changes in light and atmosphere on everyday suburban street scenes, especially the suburban drive. Most recently, her work has investigated the moving image in painting and digital form.

Peterson began painting in 2007, after working as a journalist in the Pilbara, WA. She won categories for painting in the Hedland Art Awards from 2007 for three consecutive years. The artist returned to Perth in 2010 and won the popular choice at the Joondalup Art Awards in 2012. In 2016, she received a commendation from the Head of School for Art and Design while studying a Graduate Diploma for Art and Design at Curtin University. Peterson then graduated with a Masters of Applied Design and Art in 2017, where she won the Art Award for post graduates.

In 2018, Peterson won the Celebrating Joondalup Award at the Joondalup Community Art Awards and was awarded the Overall Emerging Artist for the City of South Perth. In 2019, Peterson was the winner of the Joondalup Community Art Award and was selected to exhibit at the Bunbury Biennale, Minnawarra Art Award and the Perth Royal Art Prize for Landscape, amongst other exhibitions. After completing an Honours Degree at Curtin University, she was awarded a Fine Art Residency at the university.

In 2020, Peterson was selected for the highly competitive City of Joondalup Invitation Art Award and the 2021 Bunbury Biennale. Having completed an Artist Residency at Fremantle Arts Centre, she is working in her studio at Heathcote Cultural Centre, preparing for a residency at Midland Arts Centre and a solo exhibition at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery in 2021, partly funded by the WA Government’s Department of Local Sports and Culture.