2nd Place, 2023 Figural Competition
Linda Lunnon, Nancy, oils. © Linda Lunnon, shared with permission.
Linda Lunnon
In the rural landscapes of Australia, a young Linda Lunnon was already sketching the flora and fauna that surrounded her as a child. Her most cherished possessions were a tin of Derwent Artist pencils and an expansive book about Australian birds.
Her love for nature led Lunnon to pursue a career in environmental science. Upon discovering that the University of Newcastle offered a Natural History Illustration degree, she entered the program and was awarded the prestigious Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award during her final year of study.
Linda Lunnon, Ruffled, oils. © Linda Lunnon, shared with permission.
Lunnon works in a variety of media, but her first choice is scratchboard, and she has attained the title Master Scratchboard Artist in the International Society of Scratchboard Artists. While she leaves many of her pieces in black and white, she will also add colored inks to an artwork creating a beautiful combination of scratchboard and color.
Linda Lunnon, Bed of Blossons, oils. © Linda Lunnon, shared with permission.
She finds inspiration in her travels and observations of nature, crafting portraits of animals and people that encapsulate their unique character, emotions, and momentary expressions.
“My love for the natural world means that most of my pieces are wildlife and botanical illustrations, though I do enjoy drawing people. I love capturing the essence and character of my subjects, and the medium of scratchboard provides a good base for creating drama and detail,” she says.
Linda Lunnon, Treecreeping, oils. © Linda Lunnon, shared with permission.
Lunnon’s work has won numerous awards, garnered recognition both nationally and internationally, and been part of numerous exhibitions. Her pieces are held in private collections in Australia, the U.K., Canada, and the U.S.