Photo: Norval Watson in 2026 with a detail of his painting, “Vincent: The Black Shadow”
Norval Watson is an artist known for working in a diverse range of creative media. Focused on creating innovative projects and artistic expressions, Norval Watson is comfortable working in painting, photography, the moving image, 3D modelling, animation and game development. This portfolio/blog highlights the exceptional quality and unique style of his work, aimed at attracting potential admirers and collectors in various creative endeavours. With a foundation built on individuality and professionalism, Norval Watson is committed to delivering value through engaging and impactful projects.
Bio
Norval was born in Australia in 1957. He sketched prolifically in his childhood and began building custom surfboards in his early teens. After leaving school he worked in print media, and made several short films. In 1990 he created a pop-up exhibition of paintings in a warehouse in South Melbourne, and has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions since then. In 2006 Norval’s spinal cord was crushed in a cycling accident and he became an incomplete quadriplegic. He has lived and worked in Byron Bay, Australia since 1995, and he works at creating new art every day.
Image: “MYTYME2NYT”, acrylic on polycotton, 122 x 91cm, 2026 (see New Media section below)
CV
Solo exhibitions:
2013-2026 Instagram, Facebook
2010 Tigerfish Gallery, Torquay, Victoria
Image: “Passing Showers”, oil on canvas, maybe 101 x 152cm?, 2010
1994 Works on paper, Cafe Primavera, Geelong, Victoria
1994 Lobby show, Napier Street Theatre, Melbourne
1994 Moved to abstraction, Saratoga Club, Melbourne
1991 Enter the Dreaming, Base, South Melbourne
1990 Base, South Melbourne
1988 Longforest Gallery, Central Victoria
Group Exhibitions:
2015 Crescent Art Classic, Crescent Head, NSW
2012 Byron Art Classic, Byron Bay, NSW
2011 Food, still@thecenter, Byron Bay, NSW
2011 Byron Art Classic
2000 Soul Surfer 2, Tugun, Queensland
1999 Salon de Refuses (Archibald Prize), S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Image: “Self-Portrait: Sale of the Century”, oil on canvas, 91 x 91cm, 1999. Shown as the only painting in the entrance lobby at the Salon des Refuses (see above)
1999 Soul Surfer, Broadbeach Gallery, Qld.
1996 Kicking Arts, Byron Bay
1996 Groundswell, Epicentre, Byron Bay
1994 Across the Rip, Tidal Wave IV, Sorrento, Victoria
1994 Summer show, Torqing Arts, Torquay, Victoria
1993 Struggle and Protest, Torqing Arts, Torquay
1993 Target Art Award, Geelong, Victoria
1993 The Big Break, Torquay
1993 Tidal Wave 2, Queenscliff, Victoria
1992 Surfering Artists , Torquay
1992 Tidal Wave 1 Queenscliff
New Media:
2002- … constantly exploring the boundaries of digital possibilities
Image: frame grab from video game-in-progress, 2025. I’ll get back to it when the software catches up to where my head’s at.
Image: “Moments in Love”, still frame from 3D animated wave sequence, 2022
Image: “Club Street”, frame grab from 3D tableau, 2019. This formed the basis for my painting “MYTYME2NYT”, 2026 (see top of page)
Murals:
1998-2000 Peter Pan’s Travel Centre, Byron Bay, NSW
1996 Byron Bay Bunkhouse, Byron Bay
1990 Bortolotto’s Cafe Menis, St Kilda, Victoria
Photo: a small section of the extensive murals I created at Bortolotto’s Cafe Menis with the help of five assistants, Phil, Slim, Sue, Gus and Cary
1988 Data Express, South Melbourne, Victoria
1988 Triffids Restaurant, Philip Island, Victoria
1988 El Tropo Restaurant, Lancelin, WA
Film and video:
2000-2021 – various short videos: Vimeo Channel … YouTube channel
1988 – Camera, “Savage Cuts II”, for Rip Curl
1987 – Co-producer, “Savage Cuts”, with Peter “PK” Kirkhouse, for Rip Curl
Image: Tom Curren, Easter Reef, still frame from “Savage Cuts” (see above)
1980 “Zok”, 16 mins, 16mm – producer, writer, director
Image: David Reyne as Zok, production still from “Zok”, 1980
Published photography:
Australian Surfing World, Tracks Magazine, Surf Australia, Surfer USA, Surfing USA, Breakaway, Freesail
Photo: Peter Reeves surfing south-western Victoria, c. 1979
Sound and music:
2009 Debut album “Unwell” released on Soundcloud and CD.
1980s Various soundtrack work on feature films and mini-series
Miscellaneous:
I love building stuff. Guitar pedals, amplifiers, bikes, surfboards, boats, buildings…
Image: Watson Wipeout valve amplifier, 2013
Image: studio I built in the Long Forest, c. 1990, out of bluestone, bricks and concrete
Image: old mate Sam Smith with a rack of surfboards I painted at Island Surfboards, c. 1979
