2025 Judges
Visual Arts Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2025
Christine Cansfield-Smith
Christine Cansfield-Smith trained as a graphic designer and worked as an art director/production manager in advertising agencies and art studios before obtaining her BA(Hons) at the University of Queensland.
She received her MA from the University of Virginia, USA and publishing qualifications from Radcliffe College, Harvard. In 2006 she completed a Master of Management with the Australian National University.
Christine was the production manager for the Atlantic Monthly Press, New York and, after returning to Australia, was appointed the head of science communication at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
She then built and established the CSIRO Discovery centre, a major education and exhibition facility in Canberra, where she was the Director for 14 years.
Christine received formal training in botanical art, after which she established the Canberra Institute of Botanical Art and the Beechworth Institute of Botanical Art and managed these schools, as well as the Canberra Botanical exhibition, for several years. She moved to Beechworth in 2011.
Christine has taught an introductory course in botanical art for many years. She has curated and managed in Beechworth four biennial botanical and wildlife art exhibitions for artists from around Australia. In 2017 she co-founded the Mayday Hills Art Society which provides
17 art studio spaces for artists in the northeast.
Visual Arts Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2025
Dianne Kotzur
Di Kotzur is a painter, drawer, collage artist and sculptor based in the Indigo Valley in North-Eastern Victoria – who will happily confess that while she creates in a wide range of media and processes, she is a master of none! Although trained in formal, figurative practices and techniques, Di has spent the last 30 years working in schools and universities teaching, then breaking, all the rules. She is constantly in awe of the creativity and ideas explored by both her students and the creatives and makers around her.
Di’s work is largely inspired by the places and fascinating people she meets every day. She herself is a bit of a bowerbird, collecting bits and pieces from ‘people watching’ and her day-to-day interactions…. gathering stories, objects, unusual patterns and beautiful colours, layering and rearranging them to tell new narratives. She is always fossicking and picking up interesting old objects from markets, seedpods and branches from walks etc, and endeavours to incorporate these new elements into her works, contrasting textures and timelines.
Her latest exhibitions have included prints, works on paper and sculptures based on the idea of home, and a series of collages and paper-cuts documenting fantastical insects and plants. Her current work involves the creation of life-size timber figures challenging traditional notions of beauty, age and gender.
Photography Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2025
Ben Eyles
Ben is an experienced educator specialising in captivating student experiences.
Started work as a 10-year news photographer with Fairfax newspapers, then enjoyed six years as a photography teacher in Creative Industries teaching Adobe Suite and photography.
I was a e-learning trailblazer at Wodonga TAFE where I co-delivered the successful online Diploma of Photography with industry veteran Tracey Matheson.
I have skills in Photography, Videography, E-Learning, Storytelling, Mentoring and Editing software like Final Cut, Photoshop, Capture One, and the wider Adobe Suite.
Proud to say I am self-taught and grateful to all the mentors who have helped me along the way. Committed to paying all that love and support forward for the rest of my days.
2024 Judges
Visual Arts Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2024
Kate Gorman
Kate Gorman is an established artist who has lived in the North East Valleys region of Victoria since 1982. During this time she has travelled extensively-‐ drawing inspiration from places including France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and parts of Asia.
Kate works in an expressive, painterly technique, building layers of vibrant colour in an abstract style.
Gorman’s CV includes a background in fashion design and competed her formal studies in Visual Arts and Design in 2006.
The recipient of various awards including the Graduate Award from Australian Catholic University in 2006; the 2015, 2012 and 2010 King Valley Art Show; the 2015 and 2014 Wodonga Art Prize; and 2009 Wangaratta Jazz Art Award.
Gorman has been a finalist in several Art Prizes including the Calleen art Award, Cowra, Trinity college, Thurgoona and the Pro Hart Outback art Prize, Broken Hill.
Gorman is represented by Art2Muse Gallery, Woollahra; Storehouse, St Kilda; Hive Gallery, Ocean Grove and Satch and Co, Holbrook where her solo shows are held regularly.
Kate’s work is held in private and public collections throughout Australia and overseas.
Photography Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2024
Jules Boag Bio
Jules Boag is a commercial photographer and photographic artist.
He has been a finalist in the Blake Prize, The Bowness Prize, The Citibank Portrait Prize with his work being exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney, Tweed Regional Gallery and the Museum of Australian Photography in Melbourne.
Alongside his arts practice, Jules has worked in various roles in the Museum and Gallery sector for the past 25 years, most recently as part of the Digitisation Project at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Jules’ most recent exhibition, Coast, was in November 2023 at Art Partners in Albury.
2023 Judges
Visual Arts Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2023
Inga Hanover
Arts Rutherglen is delighted to welcome Inga Hanover, Arts Educator & Exhibition Officer at Wangaratta Art Gallery, as the Visual Art judge for the 2023 Tastes of Art Prize.
“One of the many highlights of working in arts education as a gallery exhibition officer is meeting new artists, seeing diverse new works and the subsequent research into their practice so that I can meaningfully engage with the audience. I particularly look forward to the observations, interpretations and exchange of ideas that happens with each primary school group that comes through the gallery” .
There has been a constant thread of ‘home’ in Inga’s own artworks, both in her illustration and installation over the last decade with themes that reminisce on childhood, yearn for the things of the past and a ‘longing for home’. Over the last 13 years, she has continued a daily drawing practice.
The skills and knowledge acquired when undertaking her Master’s at Monash University informed and enriched her teaching practice, broadened her visual language and art critiquing skills.
Inga has had seven Solo Exhibitions and exhibited her works throughout North-East Victoria, regionally and overseas.
Photography Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2023
Kurt Hickling
Arts Rutherglen is delighted to introduce photographer extraordinaire who will judge the Landscape and Open section Photography sections in 2023.
Kurt started out as a freelance photographer for the Herald Sun in 1997, moving on to chasing storms and photographing lightning for the Bureau of Meteorology. Locating to Chiltern in 2003, Kurt has pursued photography in the portraiture, creative and commercial areas
Kurt has run exciting workshops in storm and Astro photography and has photographed bioluminescent fungi at the Mt Pilot National Park.
Currently Kurt is working as senior photographer at the Wang Chronicle and running his own photography business.
In November 22, Kurt was awarded the highest honour in Photography in Victoria, at the Victorian Country Press Awards for best overall image.
2022 Judge
Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2022
Annie Falcke
Since 2015 Annie has been part of the leadership team at Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) working in her role as engagement manager.
Annie is passionate about expanding art education opportunities for adults and children, developing partnerships and collaborations to strengthen the ways in which we communicate the value of art and artists to the community.
2021 Judge
Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2021
Di Mangan
Since 2016 Di has been the owner/director of Off Centre Gallery and Studio located at the Milawa Cheese Factory in North East Victoria.
The Off Centre Gallery and Studio offers high quality works of art for sale online for home and corporate spaces while also providing professional
and individual services in the selection of artworks and design options to suit clients’ needs.
Di was formerly the Director of the Wangaratta Art Gallery 1998 – 2016
She is experienced in:
- curating and curatorial projects
- exhibition design
- gallery collection initiation and development
- establishment and growth of major biennial award exhibitions
- gallery strategic and forward planning
- exhibition programming
- community liaising with staff, arts industries, service providers, other public art galleries, artists and state government departments
- reporting to local government bodies
- seeking funding applications for various capital works and gallery cultural events
Di Mangan Phone: 0427 802 418
2020 Judge
Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2020
Jacinta Mirams
Director of Art Partners Australia, Jacinta Mirams has worked closely with many Australian artists and institutions over the past 20 years. Art Partners Australia, an Albury-based business, purchases original Australian artworks to display in largely public and commercial spaces.
Jacinta’s role is to liaise between artists and institutions to provide contemporary original artworks for hospitals and other large organisations as well as catering for smaller commercial businesses including accountancy and financial planning groups, legal and medical practitioners, hotels,
motor dealerships and private homes.
In 2016 Art Partners Australia was commissioned to provide a wide range of artworks for the new Ramsay Health facility, Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre. The artworks in the collection were chosen to enhance the new building and positively engage the patients, their families and
visitors.
Jacinta’s most recent major project was to supply 300 artworks for the new mental health facility in Sydney. The artworks include lithographs, etchings, watercolours, linocuts, oil pastels, limited edition prints and acrylics on canvas.
Art Partners Gallery is located at 488 David Street, Albury NSW and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am – 2.30pm and on Saturdays 9am – 12 Noon.
Jacinta Mirams
0417 229 658
2019 Judges
Visual Art Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2019
Ken Raff
Ken Raff lives and works in Wodonga, Victoria. Born in Gippsland, Victoria in 1948, Ken Raff spent his teenage years by the seaside in Beaumaris, Melbourne.
In 1971 he completed a Higher Diploma in Secondary Art/Craft Teaching Training, majoring in sculpture, and moved to the country to teach art at the High School in Echuca, Euroa and finally Wodonga.
In 1993 Raff resigned from the Secondary system to take up full time professional practice as a visual artist specialising in sculpture.
In 1997 Raff successfully completed his Post Graduate Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts) – Sculpture, through the Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Victoria.
Between 1997 and 2002 Raff worked as a sessional teacher, training student teachers at Latrobe University, Wodonga campus and at Riverina Institute of TAFE, Albury, where he taught sculpture in the Visual Arts department.
Raff also tutored Indigenous artists in the ATSIS Art Certificate and Diploma courses in Wodonga Institute of TAFE for 10 years until retiring in 2010.
Photography Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2019
Sue Davis
Arts Sue Davis lives and works in Corowa.
A member of AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) Sue is a Master Photographer and has won many awards.
Her 23 years of experience within the industry has allowed Sue to gain a vast knowledge of picturesque locations, meeting the most amazing people from all over the world and creating great relationships with them.
Photography is all about storytelling: emotions, fun, laughter, tears and the interaction between people. She captures special events including weddings, maternity, newborn and family and absolutely loves what she does.
Sue’s studio is situated amongst the rustic buildings that were once the Old Flour Mill, now the Corowa Whisky and Chocolate Factory in Corowa, NSW.
2018 Judges
Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2018
Ern Trembath
Ern Trembath won his first art award at the age of 12 in a competition for all schools in Gippsland and has now been painting for over 55 years. He is a self-taught artist who says he never stops learning about art.
He ran art classes for many years and gave talks and demonstrations at many art shows, art societies, Rotary & Probus Clubs and charity
organizations.
Ern has judged numerous art shows both in Victoria and NSW. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International from Camberwell Rotary Club for his assistance and dedication to the arts – a rare award for a non-member. Over the many years he has entered art shows, Ern has won more than 70 awards and scores of commendations, and has
paintings in Galleries and private collections both here in Australia and overseas, including the Royal collection in London.
Although he lost partial use of his right arm in a car accident in 2003, he has continued his career by using his left hand for the majority of the work. Now living in Corowa, NSW he is in semi-retirement, but still producing his art from his studio in Thornton, Vic.
Ern’s motto has always been ‘Live to paint not paint to live’. This has enabled him to put his heart and soul into each work produced.
www.erntrembath.com.au
Judge for Tastes of Art Prize 2018
Linda Fish
Linda Fish was born in Melbourne, completed a Diploma of Art and Design, majoring in Sculpture at Prahran College of Advanced Education, 1976-79, a Diploma of Education from Melbourne College of Advance Education
in 1985 and a Master of Visual Arts from Monash University, 2007-09.
A sculptor since the 1970’s, Linda’s art awards include a grant from Australia Council for the development of new sculptures. Her commissions span public art as well as private collections. Linda has held numerous solo
exhibitions, has exhibited extensively and was recognised as a finalist in the
Lorne Sculpture Biennale.
Linda works and lives in Yackandandah, a country town in North East Victoria.
