As the grand-nephew of Sidney Nolan, Tony hails from Australian art royalty. Tony’s precocious talent was evident from an early age: with his first attempt, aged 19, he won Best Painting at the prestigious Wildlife Art Society of Australia awards. An artist of extraordinary talent, Tony specialises in subjects of the natural world, painted in the traditions of classical realism, although his recent move into Hyperrealism has led to a shift in his painting style. As an artist, his beliefs are very much informed by the philosophy of the New Realism movement which states that something beautiful, painted beautifully, is a justification in itself. His paintings aim to inspire and bring a sense of wonder to the viewer. Tony is recognised internationally as the foremost living bird artist in Australia.
A keen and knowledgeable naturalist, Tony travels widely searching for new ideas and challenges. His field research has taken him throughout Australia, Europe, USA and Africa. However Tony’s passion for the Australian bush, its wonderful light and its diverse fauna and flora, keep him travelling throughout this continent. Tony has a genuine love for and deep knowledge of the birds
What sets Tony’s work apart is that, unlike most artists, he studies the birds he paints in their natural environment so he can capture the unique attitude and movement of each species.
While best known as a bird artist, Tony’s horse portraits and African fauna studies are internationally recognised for their exceptional quality and accuracy. He is a founding member of Artist Ambassadors Against Poaching, a non-profit organisation whose aim is to create awareness of conservation issues through art.
Tony lives with his partner Nicky and works from his studio in the Victorian High Country surrounded by the birds and the bush that inspire him.
2017 Finalist Holmes Art Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Birdlife
2016 Winner Holmes Art Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Birdlife
2015 People's Choice Award Holmes Art Prize in Realistic Australian Birdlife
2013 Runner Up Inglis Equine Art Prize
2012 Runner up Inglis Equine Art Prize
1991 Finalist James Hardie James Hardie Wildlife Art Prize - State Library - Brisbane
1991 Birdwatcher Magazine Voted 'Best young European Bird Painter', Birdwatcher Magazine
1990 Best New Artist British Wildlife Artist Society Birdlife
1985 First Prize Wildlife Art Society of Australia
Tony's art has been published in a number of science based natural history books. Most notable are his two latest award winning publications:
Grassfinches in Australia (2012) and Glimpses of Paradise (2008).
Both books received Whitley Awards for Excellence in Zoological Illustration.
A further book, The Night Parrot: Australia’s Most Elusive Bird (CSIRO Penny Olsen) has just been released (September 2018).
Whitley Award Commendation
"In “Grassfinches in Australia”, Joseph Forshaw, Mark Shephard and Anthony Pridham have summarised our present knowledge of each species, and have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats and in aviculture. The resulting combination of superb artwork and scientifically accurate text ensures that this volume will become the standard reference work on Australian grassfinches. In addition to enabling aviculturists to know more about these finches in the wild, as a guide to their own husbandry techniques, detailed information on current management practices for all species in captivity is provided. The book also includes colour plates depicting some of the more common mutations held in Australian and overseas collections.."
Whitley Award Commendation for Illustrated Zoology 2013.
T.R.Birkhead
"Grassfinches in Australia” is a substantial, large-format book comprising over 300 pages and a mixture of text and beautiful artwork by Tony Pridham. Indeed, the book is worth buying for the images alone, and my guess is that many people will do just that ."
T. R. Birkhead, IBIS - British Ornithologists' Union, pp. 214, 2012.
Su Gough
"A weighty and beautifully illustrated tome - a complete review of all the species of Grassfinch (estrildid finches) found in Australia and nearby archipelagos. Of interest both to scientists, keen bird watchers with a particular interest in the group and aviculturalists... From rigorous accounts of behaviour in the wild to detailed accounts of captive breeding and artificial colour variants this book really does cover all bases. Perhaps the highlight is the truly beautiful full-page illustrations by Australian bird artist Tony Pridham, which capture the personalities of these little birds and the quality of light in their natural homes."
Su Gough, British Trust for Ornithology, November-December 2012.
