ASOC MEMBER: Heather Courtis
Naremburn NSW 2065
Email: heather@courtis.org
CALLIGRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY
Practicing Calligrapher 34 years
Guild Member of Australian Society of Calligraphers
Diploma of Calligraphy: Certificate IV Teaching of Calligraphy
Past President, Australian Society of Calligraphers
Winner and Judge, Royal Easter Show, Sydney
Government and Film Calligraphy
(“Alien Covenant”, “Australian Wars”)
CALLIGRAPHIC INTERESTS
Graphic and lettering design
Commissions
Historical Documents
Calligraphy for film/TV
Family Trees
Weddings, Functions, Marriage certificates
Book Inscriptions
Quote on Canvas
Acrylic paint, paper, string
Medieval French
“Condemnation of Joan of Arc” for film
Aged paper to look like vellum. Black ink.
Freedom of Entry
Liverpool Council. Gouache on Vellum. Ink
Commission
Canvas, ink and gold foil
The Family Tree
Ink and gouache on
watercolour paper.
Corporate letter
to HM King Charles accompanying a gift
Advertising
Christmas Promotion. Moet and Chandon.
Biography:
Patricia is a past Secretary , and now Vice President, of the Australian Society of Calligraphers, and is a past President – twice – of another Sydney based society, Calligraphy SouthScribes.
She regularly exhibits pieces and has commissioned works held in private collections in Australia and the United Kingdom.
A very experienced and popular tutor, she will tell you, if asked, that she loves every area of calligraphy in its 2,000 year history; that all of the scripts, the designs, decorations, paintings, and illumination all important: that there is real pleasure in seeing the end result of long hours of work, whether that work is traditional or modern or experimental, and that the pleasure increases a hundred fold when a student produces something lovely and special.
Her favourite script however is Italic, along with all of its wonderful variations.
Qualifications: / Experience.
- Diploma in Western Calligraphy. Distinction.
- Certificate 1V in Teaching Calligraphy.
- Collectively over 30 years teaching in Adult Education.
- 20 years with Sydney Community College.
- 12 plus years with St. George & Sutherland Evening College.
- 2019 – 2025 teaching Calligraphy on board Viking Cruise Ships during various legs of their world cruises.
- Ongoing with a small, dedicated group near Wollongong.
- Judge at Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Regional Dubbo Show.
Awards:
THE STEPHEN LARDNER AWARD for Excellence in Adult Teaching. (Sydney Community College).
Calligraphy Memberships:
- Australian Society of Calligraphers.
- Calligraphy SouthScribes, Life Member.
- Previously; Tasmanian Calligraphy Society & Canberra Calligraphy Society.
Exhibitions:
Entries into the Royal Easter Show several years ago but nothing recently.
Entries into all the exhibitions hosted by both the ASC & Southscribes, with another major exhibition for the ASC to be held in September 2026.
Works held also privately in venues in the UK one of which is a 12thC Norman church.
Committees:
Workshop Co-ordinator ASC for about 2 / 3 years prior to 2010.
Continuously ASC since 2017 serving as Secretary & Vice President.
Two terms as President for SouthScribes from approx. 1992/93 then joint Editor approx. 2016
Calligraphy styles:
All historic scripts, with Italic overall favourite in both historic and modern styles.
Heraldry:
Done as an elective subject for the Diploma course. Loved it, but haven’t done much in recent years.
This A2 work now hangs in a 12thC Norman church in the UK & lists the names of all the Priest’s, Rector’s, Minister’s names since1165 up to the present day.
It is done on 300gsm watercolour paper, using chisel nib, ink and watercolour paint. It is decorated with a 14thC inspired French border design, painted in red and gold.
Master Humphrey’s Clock used various styles of Italic to achieve a textured look. Using square edge pens of various sizes, it is written in watercolour paint with a few tiny touches of gold.
Part of a South Scribes exhibition that included all the suburbs and areas of the Sutherland Shire. This piece done on 300gsm hot press paper, using chisel nibs, ink and watercolour paints. All designs hand drawn & painted.
Drawn and painted Roman letters with a modern sharpened Italic. Raised and burnished gold design elements. The whole then torn into a circle then superimposed onto another sheet of paper after the torn edge was painted with one of the background colours.
Ruling pen on black paper using Dr. Martin’s Pen White. Watercolour modern Italic and Schminke gold paint alphabet rounded.
ASOC MEMBER: Valerie Keevers
Suburb: Caringbah South, NSW
Email: calliscribe41@gmail.com
Biography, Qualifications & Experience:
- Diploma in Western Calligraphy. (Vetab Accreditation).
- Diploma in Calligraphy. (Vetab Accreditation).
- Calligraphy Teacher Accreditation Course. Level IV Assessment and Workplace Training. (Vetab Accreditation).
- A.F.E. Calligraphy Certificate. Credit.
These qualifications have allowed me to tutor calligraphy courses for many years for The Sutherland Shire Community College, The Eastern Suburbs Community College, The Australian Society of Calligraphy Inc., Calligraphy Southscribes Inc. and to give private tutorials.
I also hold T.A.F.E. qualifications in other areas of expertise.
- A.F.E. Certificate Level IV in Information Technology.
- A.F.E. Certificate Level III in Information Technology.
- A.F.E Staff Development Seminars in Information Technology.
- A.F.E. School of Fashion Certificate and Teaching Accreditation. Honours Level.
These qualifications which have included several Psychology courses have enabled me to assess, mentor and help solve problems that occur in business and classrooms. Not only have I been a teacher of Fashion, Computing and Calligraphy I became a Moderator and Staff trainer for Smokenders Pty Ltd. which required interstate/intrastate travel to facilitate the business development.
Volunteering my time in the community for many years I gained other qualifications, the Master Member of Aesthetics and Visual Literacy from the University of New South Wales and am a N.S.W Registered Netball Umpire. I have volunteered on many committees in the capacity of President, Vice President, Executive committee person and hold those positions still for the Australian Society of Calligraphers Inc., Calligraphy Southscribes Inc. and The Continuum Art Society Inc.
Icelandic Poppies. Watercolour letters.
Quirky verses in pen and ink
Flexible penned Copperplate decoration.
Lost and Found. Extended Italic and Gothic scripts in watercolour.
2025 Christmas Card.
ASOC MEMBER: Shas Baker
Suburb: Putney, NSW
Email: shas.baker@optusnet.com.au
Graduated with a Diploma in Western Calligraphy, Certificate IV in illuminated Calligraphy, Historical Calligraphy, and Commercial Italic all completed at Macquarie Community College from 1997 to 2000.
I have been a calligrapher for over forty years, teaching in adult education since the 2000. I have designed, developed and conducted workshops for children since 2001.
My teaching experience is wide and varied, teaching beginners to advanced students.
My class and workshop content range from historical scripts to contemporary adaptation, gilding, book binding, gestural test art, colour and design.
Private tuition and commissions are also a part of my work in both traditional and contemporary calligraphy artworks.
I have studied extensively with local and international tutors as part of my CPD.
My calligraphy work was in the “Case of Excellence” at RAS Royal Easter Show 2019 and I hold numerous First Prize awards.
I was the Judge at the RAS Royal Easter Show 2020.
I have held the position of President of the Australian Society of Calligraphers and the position of Workshop co-ordinator for 8 years. I am a member of the ASC and CSV.
