Kilcunda Beach

Ramon Horsfield (1930-2014) was an Australian artist. An obituary by his wife states: 'Ramon Wilbur Harcourt-Horsfield, known as Ramon Horsfield, began cultivating his talents from a young age. Encouraged to paint by his father Wilbur, a commercial artist, Ramon would paint pictures onto parchment lampshades after school each day and on weekends. His prolific watercolour paintings helped supplement the family income during the straitened post-Depression and war years. Following his passion for painting, Ramon studied under Alexander Kerr and H. Septimus Power. He joined the National Gallery Art School full-time for five years, under Sir William Dargie. During this time Harley Griffiths, the Conservator of the National Art Gallery of Victoria, befriended him. Ramon also enjoyed the distinction of being invited to be a member of the Twenty Melbourne Artists Society. On completing his studies he joined the Victorian Education Department. During these early years Ramon and fellow teacher Graham Moore spent many weekends and holidays together painting on location. Ramon spent his last 22 years in the education department as head of the art department at Syndal Technical School. Ramon loved to go camping, fishing and then caravanning with his sister and brothers and their families to places including the Lachlan and Murray rivers. In 1979 Ramon met Judith Garde, who was also active in the art world. They married in 1982. Two years later Ramon retired from the education department, and they moved to Coronet Bay in Victoria, where Ramon continued his love of fishing, sailing and painting. Ramon and Judith also spent a lot of time painting on location at local farms, the cliffs at Kilcunda and at the local beaches. They travelled extensively around Australia, painting on location and obtaining reference material for future paintings. Ramon continued to paint his beloved landscapes, exhibiting in art exhibitions and winning many prestigious awards. In his later years he was unable to work on location, but still painted prolifically at home and at El Dorado, doing works in pastel, watercolour and oil'. This work depicts a beach scene at Kilcunda, not far from Coronet Bay, on the southeast coast of Victoria, Australia.