Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/edward-colclough

Birth Place

Brisbane, Qld, Australia

Biography

Edward Colclough (pronounced Coke-ly) was born in Brisbane in 1866 and was a student at the Brisbane Grammar School when he began employment with the Queensland Lands Department on 1 April 1882. He retired from the Records and Correspondence Section 52 years later. His only training in art appeared to be with J.A Clarke at the Brisbane Technical College during his teenage years. He was a keen sportsman with rowing amongst his special interests, maintaining this connection with his old school for years. He married Ellen McPherson Clunies Ross in Brisbane and had four children; Jack (later custodian at the Queensland Art Gallery for many years), Kevin, Grace and Ellen. Colclough exhibited watercolours with the Queensland Art Society from 1898 to 1902 and was Secretary from 1899 to1903. As he was awarded the prize for the best painting at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod it is apparent that he was one of the group of artists who expressed their dissatisfaction with the Society by forming a breakaway group, the New Society of Artists. Colclough then became Honorary Secretary and Treasurer 1904-16 when the Societies rejoined. Although he exhibited with the Queensland Art Society in the years 1915-16, 1920-21 and 1935 and was included in the Society’s Jubilee Exhibition in 1938 he largely devoted his energies to the Authors and Artists Association (1921-31) and the Queensland National Art Gallery (1922-50). He served first on the Board of Advice, acting as its Chairman from 1923 until it was abolished in 1930, whereupon he was appointed a Trustee, serving until his death in 1950. He was buried in the South Brisbane Cemetery on 22 July 1950. The watercolour landscapes in south-eastern Queensland have the typical brownish tint and crepuscular ambience typical of the period. He travelled further afield in his search for subjects with his brother Michael, a preparator for the Queensland Museum. Colclough was also a photographer and bushwalker and kept records of this aspect of his life in press-cutting albums and sketchbooks. Apparently, he won the competition open to Queensland artists for the best painting illustrating the discovery of the Brisbane River at the Brisbane Centenary in 1923. During the 1920s he produced an extensive series of drawings of Brisbane and its environs which were exhibited at the Phillip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, in 1997. Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery Writers: Cooke, Glenn R. Date written: 2008 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 1866

Summary

Colclough's work focused on Brisbane and its environs and has a significance in documenting the development of the city. His most important contribution was his role as an organiser for The Queensland Art Society, the New Society of Artists, the Authors and Artists Association and, lastly, the Queensland National Art Gallery.

Gender

Male

Died

Jul-50

Age at death

84