Christopher Oates is a landscape painter specialising in Canberra’s urban, suburban and rural landscapes.

His work focuses on the particular light of Canberra and how it plays on old and new urban buildings, on suburban infrastructure and the surrounding vegetation and the Australian bush. He is fascinated by the architecture of Canberra, by its streetscapes and by the whole concept of a city growing out of the wilderness.

This website showcases Christopher’s work, which can be bought on line. Christopher also accepts commissions and enjoys depicting client’s own homes.

About the Artist

Christopher has lived in Canberra for over 40 years. He originally worked in the public sector while spontaneously drawing and painting in his spare time. His early work focussed on the landscapes and cityscapes in and around Canberra. He produced sketches in pencil, charcoal and black pen, then pastel and finally gouache for depth, contrast and detail.

Over the years he has also attended classes in life drawing and printmaking at the Canberra School of Art.

Exhibitions and Works

Christopher had his first solo exhibition – In a Clear Light – at the ANCA Gallery, Dickson, in October 2011.

In September 2013, Christopher was a major contributor to the Shaping Canberra exhibition at the School of Art Gallery at the ANU.

In August, 2014, Christopher’s solo exhibition – Canberra: Seeing the Obvious – was shown at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre..

Christopher’s works are represented in the ACT Legislative Assembly’s art collection and in the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery (CMAG) collection

Christopher has also undertaken commissions, mainly landscapes and buildings, for individuals and organisations. He has also painted landscapes, buildings and people at the South Coast, in Europe and in South East Asia.

Here’s a profile of Christopher from the Canberra Times, February 2017:

Forthcoming Events

Christopher’s next exhibition – Infrastructure – will be held in Gallery 3 at Canberra’s M16 Artspace, from 19 October to 5 November 2017. Here are a few images from ‘Infrastructure’.

We’ll provide further information – including prices and other details of the works – closer to the exhibition date.