B. 1891 – 1945 

Harold Herbert was an Australian painter, illustrator, art teacher, art critic and war correspondent. He began working life as a teacher, abandoning it in 1919 to pursue a career as a watercolourist, quickly gaining notoriety for his mastery over the medium. Between 1922 and 1923, Herbert travelled and painted extensively, journeying through England, France, Spain and Morocco. 

In 1941, he was appointed an Official War Artist, travelling to the Middle East for a six month appointment. Upon his return, the Memorial selected 50 works for the National Collection and bought an additional 25, each of which is considered among his best – full of light, atmosphere and action. 

Herbert died prematurely in 1945. From 1926 until his death, he was a member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board and belonged to the Australian Artists’ Association, Australian Watercolour Institute, NSW Society of Artists and the Victorian Artists’ Society. Represented across public collections, he is remembered as one the finest watercolourists of 20th century Australia. 

 
To read a more in-depth biography of the artist, click here.