Four Narrabri High School HSC arts students attended a masterclass run by local artist Graeme Compton during the weekend of May 24-25.
The classes ran for a full day on Saturday and a half-day on Sunday at the Narrabri Art and Craft Society workroom and art gallery.
The event was an initiative of ArtsNational Narrabri’s annual Young Arts Award, with the project planned and implemented by Graeme.
The two-day course ‘Literally Illustrated’, provided encouragement to develop the students’ own expressive styles, along with guidance on improving technical skills and useful work habits in the area of drawing and illustration.
It included insight into the book and comic publishing environment and various anecdotes were heard from successful professional artists, illustrators, authors and publishers.
Each student received a ‘starter kit’ of artist’s tools, along with an instruction and tasks manual, written and illustrated by Graeme.
“Our group of Narrabri High School arts students were highly talented, very enthusiastic and extremely disciplined in their approach to the set work,” said Graeme.
“Faced with the task of illustrating passages from such diverse books as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Nevermoor – the Trials of Morrigan Crow by Australian author Jessica Townsend, our brilliant students tackled the six-hour stint on Saturday with gusto and imagination.
“On Sunday, they returned for the job of creating a cover for a comic book or graphic novel of their own invention, which they committed to and executed with equal stamina and genius.
“We shared some profound and insightful conversations about art and life. Many thanks to ArtsNational Narrabri for providing these wonderful young artists with the opportunity to experience a day-and-a-half in the life of an illustrator.
“They enjoyed themselves thoroughly and took home new knowledge and new work for their portfolio.
“Thank you to Narrabri Art and Craft Society Inc for providing the exceptional venue, with its well-equipped studio and superb gallery.”
Graeme is a visual artist who is fascinated by the real and the imagined.
He explores the psyche, symbolism, compassion, communication and comedy that can be found in art.
Graeme depicts his ideas in the form of elephants, dragons, birds and all manner of creatures, often anthropomorphising or zoomorphising his subjects. His styles range from fine art realism and surrealism to fantasy art, illustrations and cartoons, using all forms of media including pixels.
He has won several art prizes and, since 2013, has illustrated 21 books (with one more on the way) for various authors, including Pat Clarke, Cassidy Jackson-Carroll, Gaille Walton and Glenda Lay.
Chair of ArtsNational Narrabri Fiona Groeneveld was delighted with the success of the weekend.
“We are incredibly proud to see the outcome of our 2025 Young Arts project, a weekend which was testament to the passion and creativity of our local artist and published book illustrator Graeme Compton.
“Well done too, to the talented Narrabri High School HSC arts students who took part in the weekend’s masterclass.
“The project would not be possible without donations received into our Young Arts Scheme from the committee, members, and friends of ArtsNational Narrabri. We wish to convey our sincere thanks to the community.”
