Harry Pugmire, 1901-1971

Harry Pugmire was born on Christmas Day, 1901 in Scarborough, England, the youngest child of Henry Pugmire and Margaret Woodall.

He arrived in Australia in 1927, travelling via Canada, and settled in Sydney working as a gardener and then as a boatman during the 1930s and 40s.

Harry served in the A.I.F. during World War 2.

During the 50s he lived in Clarence Street in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney and worked as a picture framer. Harry moved to Nelson Bay in the 1960s where he earned a living by the sale of his art works until his death on 25 April 1971.

Art

Harry Pugmire was, according to Art Critic Melville Hansom in the 1950s, “one of the greatest exponents of the medium of pastel within Australia.” His prolific output of work occurred between 1938 and 1970.

Harry exhibited in the Wynne Prize for Landscape works in 1938 with “Old Cremorne”, 1939 with “Morning Middlehead”, 1940 with “Castle Creek”, 1952 with “Mount View”, 1953 with “West Wind”, and 1959 with “National Park.”

Being a member of the Royal Art Society, Harry regularly exhibited his works with his contemporary artists: William Dobell, Norman Lindsay, Arthur Boyd and many others.

He used many styles including hatching, cross hatching, contour drawing, simplicity of line, abstract patterns and brush work.

Source: Leonie Bell, Art of Harry Pugmire : treasure to hunt. Nabiac, N.S.W. : L. Bell, [2009]