Carey alum and prolific artist Walter Magilton (1951) is proud to announce his latest art show opening this July, A Life’s Journey: 90 Years of Age, 80 Years of Art. Read on for more details about the show and for an extended version of his autobiography that will appear in the upcoming edition of the Torch magazine. 

I was always drawing, painting and making things as a kid, and it was actually Llew Evans (1931 and past staff) who saw the artist in me. This was before Carey though – he was a young teacher at the tiny bush school I went to in rural Victoria, where he took a shine to me and my older brother. He introduced me to proper artists’ materials, with real watercolour paper, the purpose-made brushes and tubes of high-quality paint – a far cry from the kids’ painting sets I’d been using up until that point. 

My brother and I came to Carey for two years as boarders, which was all our parents could afford at the time. They were dairy farmers, and when I went back home after Year 10, I started working on the farm too. I loved working with the horses and being in nature, but it was the landscapes I was able to paint that brought me the most joy during that time. 

One day, my dad said to me, ‘Walter your heart doesn't seem to be in farming, you should have a think about it. If you decide to train for something, I'll pay for your training. If it doesn't work out, you can come back on the land.’ It was the best thing he’d ever said to me – I knew I wanted to paint. 

Carey had no art department at the time, so I instead of going back to finish school I applied for Teachers’ College – Caulfield Tech at the time, now known as Chisholm Institute – to do an art and craft course, and it was amazing. I taught art for 27 years and was a Senior Master for 10. I loved it. 

When not creating art, I’m spending time with my wife and my kids, and I’m a member of the MG Car Club, a fellowship member of the Victorian Honour Society and a life member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. I love getting involved with the Warrandyte Festival, and for many years I was a volunteer fire-fighter. I’m still connected to my old friends from Carey, too – I especially enjoy the Old Carey Golf Lunches, which we get together for regularly. 

My main passion right now is my art school for adults in Warrandyte, Stony Creek Studio, and of course, I find time to make art whenever possible. I have an exhibition coming up which opens on 25 July at the Montsalvat Long Gallery in Eltham. It’s called A Life’s Journey: 90 Years of Age, 80 Years of Art. It features 42 of my artworks from throughout my life and career, including gold and silver smithing, jewellery, sculpture, painting and even some of my work from when I was 8 years old. The intention is to illustrate my journey and my career, and I welcome anyone in the Carey community to come. 

A Life’s Journey: 90 Years of Age, 80 Years of Art opens on 25 July at Montsalvat Arts Centre – Long Gallery at 7 Hillcrest Ave, Eltham. The exhibition opening event is free for anyone who would like to attend: get your tickets here. 

More information about the exhibition can be found in the poster below: