Drew Truslove

Michael Reid Northern Beaches is thrilled to present Drew Truslove’s exhibition, ‘Fox Paths – Minnamurra River’. A rising talent in contemporary Australian art, Drew’s ink drawings capture the layered beauty of the natural world with striking simplicity and emotional resonance. In 2024, Drew was honoured with the Award of Excellence in the Morgans Financial Prize for Emerging Painters for his standout work, Flat Rock, River Crossing, 7th Angle. This recognition, accompanied by a $2000 non-acquisitive cash prize and mentorship opportunities, reflects his growing stature as an artist to watch.

“Creating artworks that give a sense of place is important to me. Over the past few years I’ve explored this by doing multiple landscape drawings with a dipping pen and ink, to build a dense and textured landscape. I typically use black or blue ink – I find this gives a pared back, simple view of the landscape, and is a relatively uncommon approach. Rather than trying to match the hues and tones of the bush, the ink provides an impression of the landscape, revealing its beauty with one single colour.”

‘Fox Paths – Minnamurra River’ delves into the nuanced beauty of the bushland Drew calls home. “Standing on one rock or patch of grass, I draw the views from different angles around that point, providing a unique view of how truly beautiful and diverse an individual spot can be,” he explains. This immersive approach enables Drew to create intricate, multi-perspective compositions that celebrate both the individuality and interconnectedness of the landscape. Working exclusively with black or blue ink, Drew forgoes traditional hues to evoke the essence of his surroundings. “Rather than trying to match the hues and tones of the bush, the ink provides an impression of the landscape, revealing its beauty with one single colour,” he says. His drawings are rich with texture and density, inviting viewers to see the bush through a fresh, distilled lens.