Chan Dissanayake was born in Sri Lanka to an artistic family, his father an internationally acclaimed film director and his mother an art teacher. He migrated with his family to Australia in 1986.

A talent for drawing was recognised in pre-school days and a passion for art, especially for watercolours, kept him actively involved in it. He studied watercolour painting with renowned Australian artists embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

Achieving rapid success and winning many major awards, he has gained a considerable reputation as an outstanding watercolour artist. His solo exhibition ‘Cool Waters’ held in October 2010 was a sell-out. In 2011 and 2012, he was invited as a tutor at the Summer Art Experience run by the Artists society of Canberra.

Chan was named the winner of the Agricultural Heritage Prize and the overall Champion Exhibit at the Royal Canberra Show in 2013

His works are highly sought after in local and regional galleries. Currently his work is represented at the Bungendore woodworks gallery

Artist's Statement

"My works represent my inner response to the world around me. As an artist, my aim is to capture an impression of my subject with as little detail as possible. This is done by simplifying the subject matter to its core elements. I find that watercolour is a tailor made medium for this purpose.

Watercolour is a demanding medium. It is paramount that one learns the language of watercolour. Only then you can command it to do its magic for you.”

Awards

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2013 Sep	Best of Show (Section : All Sections) Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2013
2013 Sep	People's Choice Award (Section : All Sections) Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2013
2013 Feb	Champion Exhibit (Section : All Sections) Royal Canberra Art Show 2013, Exhibition Park, Canberra
2013 Feb	Agricultural Heritage Prize (Theme : Canberra) Royal Canberra Art Show 2013, Exhibition Park, Canberra
2013 Feb	First Prize (Section : Portrait and Figure) Royal Canberra Art Show 2013, Exhibition Park, Canberra
2012 Oct	First Prize (Section :Watercolour) Goulburn District Art Society Annual Exhibition 2012
2011 Sep	First Prize (Section :Watercolour) Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2011
2010 Feb	First Prize (Section :Portrait & Figure) Royal Canberra Art Show 2010, Exhibition Park, Canberra
2009 Oct	First Prize (Section :Portrait & Figure) Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2009
2009 Oct	First Prize (Section: Sports & Recreation) Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2009
2009 May	Highly commended Camden Art Prize 2009
2008 Oct	Third Prize - Portrait& Figure Artists Society of Canberra - Annual Spring Art Exhibition 2008
2008 Oct	Highly Commended - Transparent Watercolour Goulburn District Art Society Annual Exhibition 2008
2008 Sept	Highly Commended - Watercolour Queanbeyan City Council Art Exhibition 2008
2008 April	Tom Parson's Memmorial Award CAW 60th Anniversary Art Exhibition
2008 Feb	Second Prize - Figurative section Royal Canberra Art Show 2008
2008 Feb	Second Prize - Landscape or cityscape section Royal Canberra Art Show 2008
2007 Sept	Second Prize - Transparent watercolour Artists Society of Canberra Spring Exhibition 2007

 

 

Selected Exhibitons

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2012 Sep	Blacktown City Art Prize- 2012 29 September - 10 November 2012 78 Flushcombe Rd Blacktown NSW
2012 May	Directors Choice- 2012 (Group Exhibition) 19th May to 25th June 2012 Bungendore WoodWorks Gallery, Bungendore
2011 December	A Breath of Fresh ART - 2011 Asthma Foundation ACT 30 November to 22 December 2011 Humble House Gallery , Fyshwick
2010 October	Cool Waters (Solo Exhibition) 2nd October - 15th November 2010 Bungendore woodsworks Gallery , Bungendore View Brochure (2.4Mb)
2010 January	Life Studies & Portraits in Watercolour (Joint Exhibition) 25th August - 5th Feb 2010 Belconnen community centre Gallery , Swanson Ct, Belconnen View Brochure (2.4Mb)
2009 August	"Coastlines" Approches to the Australian Coast (Group Exhibition) 29th August - 4th October 2009 Bungendore Wood works Gallery , Kings Highway, Bungendore View Brochure (2.4Mb)
2009 May	"SCAPES" Group Exhibition April 30th - May 31st 2009 The Artists Shed Gallery, 14 Foster Street, Queanbeyan View Brochure (22kb)
2009 Sept	Blacktown Art Prize Sept 19th - Oct 17th 2009 Blacktown Arts Centre 78 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown