Mark Naismith-Beeley
Modern Impressionist | Painter | Educator

Art and humour were my sanctuaries growing up — two lifelines that helped me navigate the world, express myself, and find joy.

I was a bit of an anxious, awkward kid. I found social situations a bit daunting and, if someone talked to me, I felt like I had a spotlight on me - probably why I developed humourous deflection as a defence mechanism (one that is still very much in use today!)

If I wasn’t getting myself into trouble with puerile witticisms, I’d often be looking for an escape. When I could, I’d disappear with my sketchpad for hours, inventing scenes, experimenting with colour and exploring the world as it was, and as I wanted it to be.

It was only when I blossomed from an awkward kid into an even more awkward 17 year-old and visited the Musee d’Orsay in Paris for the first time that I really got hooked. Seeing the works of heroes like Degas, Renoir and Pissaro - right there - in touching distance! (turns out you actually were’t supposed to touch them…)

My personal favourite that day was the genre-busting Van Gogh and “L’Eglise D’Auvers sur Oise”. From that day I knew I wanted to be an artist. So clearly as soon as I left school I went, studied law and became a banker. Yeah, OK a bit soulless but I had to eat right!

For years I didn’t pick up a brush! But life has a funny way of surprising you and when I faced a series of life crises in 2019 I was suddenly the anxious, awkward kid all over again and I found myself coming out of Officeworks with some canvases and about $200 worth of Matisse paint! I never looked back…

Today, I’m a modern impressionist working primarily in oils and acrylics and I’m based in Sydney’s Inner West. My work explores light, movement, and emotion — whether I’m painting landscapes, streetscapes, or something more abstract. I’m interested in capturing the feeling of a moment, not just its appearance. You’ll often find little details or brushstrokes that hint at something deeper — a conversation with memory, mood, or place.

In the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to be a finalist in several national art prizes. But more than recognition, what drives me is connection: helping people see the world — and themselves — a little differently through art.

Teaching & Community

Sharing what I’ve learned is a big part of what I do. I run live-streamed workshops that are welcoming, relaxed, and designed to help people tap into their own creativity — whether they’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning after years away. I believe art belongs to everyone. It’s not about being “good” or “talented” — it’s about giving yourself permission to create.

I also work with local schools on collaborative painting projects, often around environmental and community themes. Seeing kids light up when their work becomes part of something bigger is incredibly rewarding.

Why I Paint

For me, painting is a way to process, to communicate, and to celebrate the beauty in everyday life. It's a quiet act of noticing — the way light falls across a footpath, the energy of a storm rolling in, or the warmth of a shared moment.

Art has been many things for me over the years: a safe place, a voice, a career, a bridge to others. And now, it’s a way I can give back — by creating, teaching, and building community around something that has given me so much. And I never take myself too seriously. Art is food for the soul but it can also be great fun!

Thanks for reading this far! If you’d like to ask a question or just say hi, email me at mark@beeleyrt.com.au or you can follow my activity and art adventures on Instagram at @beeleyart.