Biography

Neil Douglas Laredo – Biography

Neil Laredo is a multidisciplinary artist who has worked all his life in the making of his Art. From the early age he would spend time in his father’s workshop using his Fathers tools to make model toys. Later at Fawkner Technical School Melbourne he was further able to develop his practical skills in Carpentry, and Metal work as well as developing his analytical and design skills, studying Technical Drawing and Solid Geometry. It was also during these early years at Fawkner Technical School Art classes that he was first exposed to the meaning of Art and for a brief but very significant time his concept of Art was challenged, something that would remain unresolved and in the subconscious for many years.

After leaving school he worked for some time as a trainee Mechanical Draftsmen before leaving home to join the RAAF.  Continually moving around Australia and overseas he found his art practice still wanting, searching for answers to questions he had not yet realised.  While living and working in Washington D.C. he twice exhibited paintings in the annual Australian Embassy Art Exhibition and also at the Historic Old Post Office in 1988 during the Australian bicentenary celebrations. Born in Melbourne and now living in the Lower Blue Mountains NSW, west of Sydney he has lived and travelled in many parts of Australia and overseas, including England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, USA, Mexico, the Caribbean and recently Japan.

Neil Laredo holds an Associate Diploma of Fine Arts from the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE with Distinction and awarded the Joan Levy prize for excellence, a BA (Fine Art) from the University of Western Sydney, awarded the 1995 UWS Chancellor’s sculpture Prize and represented UWS at the National Tertiary Sculpture Prize at Flinders University South Australia.

While studying at UWS Neil also opened and ran the Nepean Art House Gallery in Western Sydney for two years. The gallery was an artist run initiative and among the many solo and group exhibitions it also participated in two TAFE Graduation Exhibitions, Exhibitions from the University of Western Sydney and also was part of Sydney’s Fringe Festival.