Jock Young is an Australian landscape painter whose work is deeply connected
to the sea, particularly the shifting interface between land and water.
His paintings explore the tension between the movement and energy of the ocean and the stillness of the coastline, seeking to capture the unique character and atmosphere of a place. Central to his practice is light — especially the distinctive clarity and luminosity of the Tasmanian landscape — which shapes both the mood and structure of his work.
Originally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Young developed an early connection to the coast, spending much of his youth in and around the water. Surrounded by a relatively undeveloped landscape and influenced by a community of artists, he began painting as a teenager. Encounters with notable Australian artists including Arthur Murch, Sali Herman and later Stan de Teliga — who became an important mentor — helped foster his enduring engagement with landscape painting.
Young later studied marine biology and moved to Hobart in 1984 to work for the CSIRO, maintaining a parallel career in science and art for many years before becoming a full-time artist. His scientific background continues to inform his close observation of natural systems and coastal environments.
Preferring to work en plein air, Young travels widely throughout Tasmania, mainland Australia and overseas in search of locations that resonate with him. He has undertaken artist residencies in France and Australia, held more than thirty solo exhibitions, and his work is represented in numerous public and private collections.
Exhibitions.
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