B. 1862 – 1935

William Blamire Young was an English-born Australian painter, illustrator, critic, and designer whose imaginative watercolours and influential writing helped shape debates surrounding Australian art in the early twentieth century. 

Born in Yorkshire, Young migrated to New South Wales in 1885, where he quickly immersed himself in artistic and literary circles. After returning to England to pursue formal art training, Young moved to Melbourne in 1895 and established himself as one of Australia’s leading poster designers, creating bold graphic advertisements for publications such as The Bulletin and Cycling News. By the early 1900s, he increasingly turned away from commercial design to focus on painting. His large-scale watercolours combined symbolism, mood, and dramatic colour, balancing romanticism with modern experimentation – earning praise from Arthur Streeton, who lauded Young’s “large and cultured vision" and declared that “as a designer and painter in water-colour he will always stand in the first rank.”

Alongside this painting practice, Young became one of Australia’s most respected art critics and cultural commentators, contributing extensively to The Argus, The Lone Hand, and the Melbourne Herald. This dual career as an advocate and creator cemented his national reputation. He exhibited widely throughout Australia and Britain, notably at the Royal Academy of Arts. Young’s standing was further elevated by a dedicated 1921 issue of Art in Australia and the entry of his work into major state collections.