trevor hoppen painter

Photographs: mdc

Born in Melbourne in 1960, Trevor Hoppen took to the visual arts at a very early age, having been taught how to pontificate by his Father who he cites as a highly formative influence. Both his natural inclination and his ability naturally led him to art school where he graduated in Fine Arts and subsequently a teaching diploma.

Trevor has been involved in the performing arts and the visual arts in a variety of capacities throughout his career. He spent a number of years as a leading framer, stretcher and restorer where he provided his services to a broad range of leading artists such as Arthur Boyd. Ever the larrikin, his peers christened him with a number of highly apt "monikers" such as "Doc" and "Cut Down King".

Having worked as a carpenter, a teacher, a freelance illustrator, a set designer and builder, a hot air balloonist, and a magician, Trevor eventually settled down to raise a family and get a steady job. He became a full-time artist.

As a founding member of Roar Gallery, Trevor was at the forefront of the new wave of artists emanating from the pre-yuppy Brunswick Street of the early 80's. Many of the Roar artists, including Trevor, are still producing fine art; fulfilling the promise of those dazzling first shows which made Roar a place of special significance in the history of Australian art.

Since those days Trevor has worked consistently and continuously with sculpture, painting, drawing and more recently utilised the mediums of tapestries and rugs. He has featured in a string of highly successful group and solo shows across the country with sell out shows at Chapman Galleries in Canberra and Saratoga in Melbourne.

"Making art has always been a psychological release for me." claims Trevor. "The pure act of it is automatic spontaneous and abstract. It is slapped on splattered, scrapped off cut into distressed overlayed and encrusted. There is nothing like the smell of a fresh painting."

Trevor’s work features in public and private collections in Australia, UK, Europe and US. Trevor resides in Melbourne with his partner Phillipa and their children, Ruby and Sebastian.