(b. 1989, St. Arnaud, Australia)
Hannah Sutton is a figurative realist painter based in Florence, Italy. She paints from life using traditional, hand prepared materials and techniques in the classical realist traditions typical of the 19th century European ateliers.
After 3 years of intensive study at The Florence Academy of Art, she is currently a Graduate in Residence and a member of the teaching faculty. The function of her training is to develop an understanding of the craft of painting - to value equally the strength in the idea and the skill of its execution.
Paintings are developed through the careful observation of the subject – to patiently observe the subject before the canvas, noticing the gradual changes in light over the hours, the shifts in the pensive expression of the sitter, the gesture in a pose or the energy of the room, to faithfully capture them on the canvas.
- BIO -
Hannah is from Melbourne, Australia, currently based in Florence, Italy. She is 31 years old and has a Bachelor of Design from RMIT University, and is a graduate of the 3 year painting & drawing program at The Florence Academy of Art, Italy.
She was born and raised on her family’s sheep and grain farm in central Victoria, Australia. Living in relative isolation, imagination and creativity is relied on as a total means of entertainment. She began her first art training at 13 by taking life drawing classes with the local Art Group (St. Art) and participated annually and sold works in group exhibitions in St. Arnaud, Charlton and Bendigo. From 2015 she sought mentorship from Daylesford artist Richard Payne, who had undertaken studies at the The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. Hungry for further training, she set the Academy in her sights, and after years of preparation moved to Italy in 2017 to undertake studies in painting at The Florence Academy of Art, in order to give the highest possible level of technical competency to her future ideas and works in painting and drawing.
She is currently a Graduate in Residence at The Florence Academy of Art, with a studio and the privilege to be teaching assistant to students of the Intensive Drawing Program.
- EDUCATION -
2020-Present - Fourth Year Prize (Graduate in Residence Program) The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2017-2020 - Drawing & Painting Program, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2007-2010 - Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) RMIT Melbourne, Australia (Graduated with Distinction)
- EXHIBITIONS -
2020 - ‘A Still Life’ Online Solo Show
2019 - Bendigo Easter Art Show, Victoria, Australia
2019 - St. Arnaud Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia (Group show)
2019 - Annual Charlton Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia (Group show)
2019 - ‘Fruits of Summer’ Group Show at The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2018 - ‘Fruits of Summer’ Group Show at The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2018 - Annual Charlton Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia (Group show)
2018 - St. Arnaud Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia (Group show)
2010 - ‘Breathing Space’ Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne Australia (Group show)
- AWARDS -
2018 - Best Exhibit - Charlton Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia for ‘Hanging on in quiet desperation’
2018 - Intermediate Painting Program Study Scholarship, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2019 - Best Exhibit - Charlton Art Exhibition, Victoria, Australia for ‘Canova’s Venus’
2019 - Advanced Painting Program Double Study Scholarship, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2020 - Rare Birds Scholarship Award : Australian Prime Minister and Cabinet- Office for Women scholarship for mentoring and education
2020 - Fourth Year Prize (Graduate in Residence Program: Teaching role + studio residency) The Florence Academy of Art, Italy | 
