ANNAND, DOUGLAS (1903-1976)

"The Oaks" (1943)
watercolour
cm
signed lower right
*private collection, Sydney
 
Annand was a prominent, award-winning Australian Graphic Artist & Painter. He studied commercial art at the Central Technical College in Brisbane. He moved to Sydney in his twenties and remained there for the rest of his life. After working for several firms, he began as a freelance artist and designer in 1931. His poster for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 is iconic. He did commercial work for department stores like Farmers, David Jones, Grace Brothers and Anthony Hordern. He designed the ceiling of the Australian Pavilion for the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. In 1939, he became Design Director for the Australian Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. For his work on this pavilion's design he received the 1940 bronze medal from the Australian Commercial and Industrial Artists’ Association. He took government commissions during World War II including the RAAF. After the Second World War he was commissioned for many murals, winning the Sir John Sulman Prize in 1941, 1947 and 1951. In 1948 he began work for P&O. He designed posters, fabrics, brochures, menus, and many murals for their liners the Orcades and the Oronsay. He created interiors for the Australian National University. He took a Mosman Art Prize for one of his watercolour canvases. His work also extended to magazine covers like Meanjin and coins. In 2000 Annand was inducted into the AGDA (Australian Graphic Design Association) Paperpoint Hall of Fame. His work is held in the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, and in State galleries in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. This brilliant watercolour was completed at a homestead near Camden in May, 1943. In fact, this location is a short distance from Dr Ray Crookston's property, where, only 18 months later, William Dobell sought refuge on the day the verdict of his infamous Archibald Prize case was delivered!!