SZCZEPAN URBANOWICZ
About Szczepan Urbanowicz.
Szczepan graduated with an Honours Degree in Architecture from the University of Auckland
in 1993. Whilst he had spent his formative years painting and sketching, it wasn’t until 2013
that he rekindled his love of watercolour painting.
Through 2015 and 2016 Szczepan attended workshops offered by some of Australia’s leading
watercolour artists. In particular, the Melbourne workshops led by Alvaro Castagnet and more
recent workshops in Mt Tamborine with Herman Pekel gave him the confidence to move beyond
the rigid confines of his professional training - of technical details and straight lines and into a world
abound in fluidity of forms, from the “literal” towards an expression of the essence of “form”, “mood”
and “light”.
He is particularly interested in painting en-plein-air and pursues every opportunity to paint outdoors,
to paint spontaneously and be challenged by the elements. In 2018 he started teaching watercolour
classes to beginners and advanced students and continues to offer workshops in a variety of broad
and specialist subjects. He was in 2018 and 2020 also selected as one of Australia’s
representatives to the FabrianoinAcquarello Festival in Fabriano, Italy.
2020 was a turning point. Szczepan took the opportunity to transform his watercolour engagement
from local beginnings to International projects. In June 2020, he launched and delivered a significant
milestone in ONLINE watercolour communication and collaboration. A very successful “GO WITH
THE FLOW – A GLOBAL WATERCOLOUR CONVERSATION” saw the coming together of over
100 of the world’s leading watercolour artists to discuss and chat about their experiences and
projects for a 24-hour marathon event to an audience of thousands of LIVE online viewers. He also
launched a series of ONLINE watercolour classes, courses, tutorials and workshops that are
continuing to engage with an ever-growing online audience.
He is active in the South East Queensland watercolour scene and is injecting a new excitement
where ever he teaches and exhibits. He continues to develop a broad range of subject material to
supplement his love of architectural and urban themes - recently exploring nautical and seascapes
themes alongside a lifelong fascination with sailing craft and old gaffers.
His paintings are regularly exhibited locally and internationally with his works now finding their way
into collections around the globe.
EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
May 15-24 2024 – IWM2024 – International Watercolour Masters 2024, Shropshire,
England. Exhibiting artist including painting demonstration on 22 nd May 2024. Invited as
Competition Judge for the IWM2024 – “Hang with the Masters” competition.
June 2022 – HUES OF SERENITY Group Exhibition – Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane (6
pieces exhibited – 3 sold on opening night. Other exhibitors – Joseph Zbukvic, Lisa Wang,
Herman Pekel, Bruce Buchanan and James McKay)
July 2021 - Featured artist - Art West Community Gallery, 8-week Exhibition
(12 pieces exhibited)
June 2021 – Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane, 3 pieces exhibited
May 2021 – Gardens of Babylon “BAD”, One-night Exhibition & painting demo
May 2021 - Art West Community Gallery, 8-week Exhibition (2 pieces exhibited)
May 2021 - Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba, (4 pieces exhibited)
May 2021 – 2x published watercolour paintings in The Art of Watercolour magazine for
watercolourists, Issue 40, page 5.
2021 – HIGHLY COMMENDED entry “Mt Tamborine looking west”, IWM-International
Watercolour Masters, Shropshire, England, May 2021 shifted to May 2022.
2020 - Invited artist/exhibitor with IWS Poland to the International Watercolour Exhibition “WE
ARE TOGETHER” curated by IWS Sare Gallery Moscow, Russia, Dec 2020
2020 - Exhibitor – FabrianoinAcquarello Exhibition, May 2020, Fabriano, Italy
2019 - Exhibitor – BOH (Brisbane Open House) at RAIA Brisbane chapter, 70 Merivale
Street, South Brisbane, 01 st – 13 th Oct 2019. 10 watercolour works
2019 - SOLO EXHIBITION – “Watercolours on the Goodwill Bridge”, one night only 27 th Sept
2019. 15 watercolour works
2019 - Co-Exhibitor - “Sand & Sea” exhibition at Revival Art & Design Gallery, Lutwyche,
Brisbane, 14 th - 22 nd Sept 2019.
2019 - Exhibitor - 2019 Annual Exhibition with the Watercolour Society of Queensland
2019 - Top 100 watercolour artists (1 of 3 Australians) in International Watercolour Online
Contest, IWS Sare Gallery, Moscow, Russia, August 2019. “Tokyo night”
2019 - 3rd Prize in Traditional Watercolour Category - “Dayboro Cows” - 2019 Brookfield Art
Exhibition, Brookfield Show.
2018 - Winner – People’s Choice Award “Peaceful Morning in Manly Marina – no. 2”, 2018
Annual Art Competition, Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, Wynnum.
2018 - 1st Prize in Traditional Category - “Peaceful Morning in Manly Marina” - 2018 Annual
Exhibition, Watercolour Society of Queensland
2018 - Exhibitor - 2018 Autumn Exhibition with the Watercolour Society of Queensland
2018 - Exhibitor – FabrianoinAcquarello Exhibition, May 2018, Fabriano, Italy
2017 - 2nd Prize in Traditional Category - “Japanese Garden-Mt Coot-tha” - 2017 Annual
Exhibition, Watercolour Society of Queensland
2017 - Exhibitor - 2017 Autumn Exhibition with the Watercolour Society of Queensland