Mike Rings
As many kiwis of that time, Mike headed to Australia in the late 1970s, with $50 in his pocket! He quickly managed to secure a position with David Jones Advertising Department as an illustrator and graphic designer.
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After a trip to Europe in 1983, Mike settled in Melbourne, working at advertising agencies and design studios before setting up his own business, ‘Ringo Art’. He was represented by the Talent Store booking agency and his clients included Nissan Australia, Empire Records, Law Institute of Victoria, Tattersall’s, Business Council of Australia, The Age Newspaper, Australian Geographic and McMillan Publishing. His art was reproduced under licence onto placemats, coasters, fridge magnets and tea-towels and sold Australia wide.
From the early 2000s Mike spent a number of years working on large scale murals. He designed and painted over 300 murals in and around Melbourne and was an “Artist in Residence” at primary schools across the state.
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Throughout these years, Mike never lost his original love of painting, using traditional methods and specializing in acrylic painting and illustration, and from the late 2000’s Mike returned to this.
In 2008, Mike entered the Beaumaris Art Show, winning the People’s Choice Award, and in 2009 was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at the Mentone Artist’s Exhibition. He exhibited work in art shows throughout Melbourne and coastal Victoria, selling paintings at Camberwell, Flinders, St.Kevins, Mount Waverly, Brighton, Dromana, Box Hill and Sandringham. Mike was also represented by Without Pier Gallery and Manyung Gallery.
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From 2014 Mike has been based at his own gallery, in the beautiful seaside village of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula. You will usually find Mike working on his latest creations or commissions. His combination of creative talent and discipline results in an extensive range of work.
Mike states, ‘Capturing the light and mood is a key element of my paintings. The mixture of cool and warm colours combines to capture the essence of the subject.’
