"Abstract Life" Painting

Meredith Howse is an accomplished Australian artist celebrated for her captivating landscape paintings that evoke emotion and atmosphere. With an eye for detail and a deep connection to nature, her works invite viewers into immersive worlds—where cool depths, storm-charged skies, golden sunlight, and the salty scent of ocean air are expressed through masterful brushwork. In addition to her landscapes, Howse explores abstraction with equal finesse, using colours and textures that reflect the rhythms and patterns of the natural world.

Originally born in the Northern Territory, Meredith’s childhood was spent in regional New South Wales, where the vast skies and open spaces left a lasting impression on her artistic spirit. Following her education at the University of Technology Sydney, her creative path was enriched by travels through Europe, North America, and Asia before she eventually settled in Queensland—drawn by its serene beauty and vibrant light.

Her distinctive approach, which she coined as Australian Freestyle in 2018, is characterised by loose, expressive brushstrokes, dynamic energy, and an emotive use of colour. This style bridges realism, impressionism, and abstraction, resulting in artworks that are both contemporary and deeply rooted in the landscape tradition.

One of Meredith’s most significant projects took place in 2016, when she followed the path of the Brisbane River from its origin at Mt Stanley to its meeting point with Moreton Bay. This journey led to an acclaimed exhibition of 30 paintings that captured the ever-changing moods and moments along the river’s course.

In 2018, Meredith presented a solo exhibition titled Sublime Landscapes at the Lockyer Valley Regional Gallery, showcasing 90 artworks inspired by the natural world’s quiet grandeur. The following year, she introduced a vibrant new direction with a series of opal-inspired works—an homage to her childhood fascination with these luminous Australian gems.

The landscape of Southwest Queensland became the focus of Meredith’s Colours of Texas series in 2020. These abstract pieces, rendered in earthy tones, beautifully conveyed the rugged elegance of the region. Two works from this series were featured on the popular television program The Block in 2021, gaining national attention.

Her Illumination Series soon followed—an exploration of trees illuminated by dramatic lightning storms.