GLADSTONE EYRE
1862 - 1933
Born in Brunswick, Victoria in 1862, Gladstone Eyre first studied painting under Van den Houten, later moving to Sydney where he resumed studies under Knud Bull. Throughout the 1880`s, he established himself as a fine portrait painter.
Moving with his family to Launceston in 1891, he commenced work with Richard John Nicholas (1843 – 1910) photographer of St. John Street often displaying his paintings in the shop front of his studio.
Returning to Sydney in 1902, he travelled and continued to paint prolifically in many parts of N.S.W until his death by drowning in Sydney Harbour in 1933.
Throughout the following ten years he painted Land and Seascapes of many Tasmanian locations – (Oils and Watercolours) from both life and photographs, while continuing to render portrait commissions as well.
Eyre also conducted evening classes where drawing, painting and outdoor sketching were taught to students at his St. John street studio, and in 1893 exhibited at the Tasmanian Juvenile Industrial exhibition in Launceston.
