# Mike Staniford
*Artist, Educator, Landscape Interpreter*

Mike Staniford is a contemporary Australian artist whose vibrant, gestural landscapes reinterpret nature through abstraction, emotion, and spontaneity. Based in Sydney, Mike left a long and successful career as an international creative director in 2016 to follow his passion for painting full-time. Working from a studio in an old flower factory on Sydney’s lower north shore, he draws inspiration from Australia’s dramatic landscapes and shifting light.Mike’s creative process begins in the field, capturing quick, intuitive sketches that distill the landscape into its essential forms. These initial impressions, done in pencil, pen, gouache, or acrylic, serve as visual shorthand that inform his larger studio works. His paintings are not literal depictions but emotional responses, aiming to “refigure” the geography and strip back visual noise, creating a powerful dialogue between form, color, and memory.His work has been exhibited widely, with recent solo shows at Michael Reid Murrurundi and Becker Minty, and his art has been recognized in numerous national prizes, including the Muswellbrook, Gosford, Mosman, and Lethbridge Art Prizes. Mike’s paintings are held in private collections across Australia, North America, Europe, and New Zealand. Dedicated to inspiring others, Mike encourages artists to abandon the pursuit of realism and perfection and instead embrace spontaneity and reinterpretation in their work. His tutorial philosophy, “To have a conversation with the landscape,” is a call to truly feel a place, rather than just observe it.You can find more of Mike Staniford’s work on his Instagram and on his website.

## Retreats led by Mike Staniford

### Fast and Loose - Expressive Travel Sketchbooks Retreat with Artists Mike Staniford and Debbie Mackinnon in France
May 16 - 23, 2026 · Eymet, Dordogne, France · $4,450
Instructors: Debbie Mackinnon, Mike Staniford
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/fast-loose-expressive-travel-sketchbooks-retreat-artists-mike-staniford-debbie-mackinnon-france) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/fast-loose-expressive-travel-sketchbooks-retreat-artists-mike-staniford-debbie-mackinnon-france#book)

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**Last updated:** 2025-04-14