Ben Waters

“When you go out on your own with a sketchbook and pencil and no agenda, you find out all sorts of stuff about yourself. In many ways, for landscape painters, the landscapes they paint are portraits of themselves.”

Ben Waters, known for his distinctive graphic style, captures the sweeping landscapes of Pittwater and their ethereal tangle of eucalypts. He is one of the beloved artists represented by Michael Reid Northern Beaches. His work combines realism and abstraction to create pieces that resonate deeply with viewers.

As a longtime surfer who grew up in the Pittwater area, Ben has a deep connection to this landscape. He describes painting as a way to express the feelings that emerge from his encounters with nature. “When I come back from my walks around the headlands, I drive my family nuts trying to explain the way I’m feeling,” says Ben. “So I paint, because it’s the only way to get it out of my system.” This personal connection brings an authenticity to his work that is both palpable and moving.