Sharon Collyer

Sharon Collyer is an artist based in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Her work is inspired by the colours, textures and patterns found in nature, vintage textiles, found objects and buildings. She is particularly drawn to the effects of ageing and decay on these things; the complexity of colour and surface that is created through daily use and exposure to the elements. 

In the tradition of abstract expressionism, Collyer’s work is intuitive and experimental. She begins by creating a composition on the wall with the detritus found on her daily walks. Using this as a starting point, she then allows the composition to evolve organically from there, resolving the piece over many days and many layers.   

Collyer holds a Diploma in Colour and Design from the International School of Colour and Design. She studied sculpture with Tom Bass at the Tom Bass Sculpture School as well as drawing and watercolour painting at Julian Ashton Art School and East Sydney Tech (now the National Art School). She has exhibited in solo and group exhibition at Pittwater Gallery, the MCA and SHAC, Robertson. She was a finalist in the Kangaroo Valley Art Prize in 2022, the Waterbrook Drawing Prize in 2025 and 2022, and the Mosman Art Prize in 1997.