THE ARTIST

Rachelle Dusting is a Perth-based artist and educator with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (2012) and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning Higher Education (2021). She furthered her studies in drawing at the New York Academy of Art Summer Workshop Series (2018). Rachelle’s studio is located at Goolugatup Heathcote Precinct, where she works on private commissions and runs The Painting School, offering self-paced oil painting classes for adults.

A finalist in the 2024 Basil Sellers Art Prize (NSW), 2023 Kennedy Art Prize (SA), and 2021 Kilgour Prize (Newcastle Art Gallery), Rachelle has also completed several large-scale commissions under the Percent for Art Scheme. These include a mural for Faith Community Church (2018), eight life-sized Catholic Saint portraits for Emmanuel Catholic College (2021), and perforated metal artwork for Providence Christian College’s primary school redevelopment (2022). Recently, she was commissioned to paint ten walls for the new Harvey Norman Commercial Division (WA). From 2016 to 2024, she was an active board member of the Mandorla Art Award, serving as Secretary and founding its social media team.

Rachelle held her first solo exhibition, Beauty in the Particular (2013), in Perth’s CBD and has participated in multiple group exhibitions across Australia. She was awarded a scholarship to The Art Academy (SA) in 2014, studying under Australian artist Robin Eley. In 2017, she assisted Eley in Los Angeles as an Artist in Residence, helping prepare The Binary Project for Gallery 101 Exhibit in West Hollywood. In 2024, she worked alongside renowned Sydney artist and 17-time Archibald finalist Paul Newton, further refining her portrait painting practice. She has also trained with Vincent Desiderio (Masterclass in Painting, 2017) and Roberto Osti (Figurative Drawing, NYAA, Tribeca).

In 2019, Rachelle founded The Artist Path, a global creative event series addressing common questions about artistic careers, with events held in Perth and Nashville. Her portrait commissions include influential Australians such as ultra-marathon swimmer Andy Donaldson, Thankyou co-founder Daniel Flynn, photographer Jarrad Seng, and artists Pippa McManus and Andrew Frazer. Her work is held in private collections of figures including Geoff Warn (With Architecture), Jane Wetherall (MD), Luke Shuey (West Coast Eagles Captain), Liza Harvey (former Deputy Premier & MP), Mark Coughlan (former WASO director), and Matt Taylor (former Member of Bateman).

Rachelle’s students have been selected for international programs such as UCLA’s Painting Summer School and recognized in major competitions, including The Lester Prize (2024), The Lester Prize Youth Award (2019, 2020, 2023), and the Shaun Tan Young Artist Award (2017, 2018). She has taught art incursions at over forty schools across Western Australia and was previously an Art Instructor at UWA (2014–2015). Her workshops have been held in partnership with Watoto International Uganda, Workshops AUS, Jacksons Drawing Supplies, and the Awesome Arts Regional Residency Program.