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Greg Beckenham's journey from graphite sketches to art success

By Kelly Lucas-Carmody

Dec 27, 2025

Before ink or colour, there is often graphite — soft, tentative marks waiting to shape a story.

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For Shepparton self-taught artist Greg Beckenham, one of his earliest creative sparks came from a simple graphite sketch.

That moment, however, was no ordinary school exercise. It was guided by his Year 9 art teacher — none other than renowned plein air artist Ross Paterson.

“It was a drawing of boats in a harbour,” Greg recalled.

“That memory, and that sketch, has never really left my mind.”

Art has always been a part of Greg’s life, even as he floated in and out of the scene while raising a family with his wife, Annette.

Now 58, he credits people like Ross, his years at Shepparton’s Miracle Playgrounds, and his own drive for helping him reach where he is today in the art world.

“Miracle Playgrounds was such a unique place. I learned so much about fibreglass, assembling whimsical animals, and creating colourful models and playground displays for clients,” he said.

“Even through all those years, I held onto the belief that one day, when the time was right, the door to creativity would open.”

That time, he says, is now.

“You can shine at any age,” Greg said.

“And for me, that moment is happening now. I’ve never felt more ready to live my passion.”

Today, Greg is widely recognised for his palette knife techniques — layering rich textures and bold colour with expressive energy.

However, he moves fluidly between mediums and approaches, equally at home with a brush, rag-wiping techniques, or traditional strokes. His style is ever-evolving.

“Modern times and social media open up a world of thousands of artistic styles,” Greg said.

“Sometimes it can be distracting — you end up looking at their work instead of your own. But on the other hand, it’s helped spark some great ideas for me, too.”

Greg’s art career took a significant turn in 2020. Since then, he has completed more than 150 commissioned pieces — many for people grieving the loss of a family member, friend, or beloved pet.

These works have earned him a loyal following and, more importantly, have touched lives — including his own.

“I always tear up at the end of a piece,” he said.

“I hope the artwork helps people find comfort and connection, not just through the final portrait, but through the journey — the messages that come through the painting and speak to the soul in times of grief.”

Using time-lapse technology, Greg records his creative process so families can witness the transformation — hours of work condensed into a few powerful minutes.

“I love choosing the music and showing the finished video to the family,” Greg said.

“It’s strange how I can feel such a deep connection to someone I’ve never met. I don’t paint detail — I paint feelings.”

If you can imagine losing a mother, brother, son, or father — and then having someone recreate them in a painting to be cherished forever — it’s an emotional, uniquely special experience for everyone involved.

Alongside this emotionally intense body of work, Greg also finds joy and renewal in painting simpler scenes — the beauty of nature and open landscapes and buildings — while continuing to build a bold future in the art world.

“Plein air painting takes me out of the studio and into vast, open spaces,” he said.

“It can be challenging, but it’s also beautiful to be surrounded by the elements.”

He’s especially drawn to the Strathbogie Ranges and the Dookie area, rich with rugged beauty and family memories.

“Strathbogie is where my father grew up and I spent many holidays at my uncle Alby’s home of Harry creeks road,” he said.

“My grandfather’s ashes are also on the farm they once owned.”

Looking ahead, Greg is driven by a clear goal.

“I want to fine-tune my intuition to create landscapes with strong composition, value, movement, and feeling,” Greg said.

“I’d also love to enter more exhibitions around Australia.

“With all my life experience across different industries and business ventures, I feel like the next 20 or 30 years are mine — and the best is yet to come.”