Piero Pompeani

Piero was born in Melbourne, where he has been making and restoring furniture professionally since 1985 and trading as Golden Age Restorations since 1989.

After completing a Fine Arts Degree in 1982 and moving into the antiques field in subsequent years, the appeal of traditional cabinet making and finishing techniques inspired and informed his approach to new work. It continues to do so, along with the myriad stylistic influences of centuries past, particularly mid- to late-eighteenth century design.

Piero’s furniture functions harmoniously both as accent pieces in contemporary interiors and as complements to more traditional settings. To produce quality items, he ensures each is executed with the necessary time and attention to detail.

In addition to creating original works, Piero restores period furniture for sale and is a registered secondhand dealer.

1A Mantell Street, Coburg North VIC 3058
0438 298 740
or email

Margaret Cowling

Born in Perth W.A.

STUDIES
Diploma of Art (Illustration) at Royal Melbourne Technical College (RMIT) 1957-1960 incl. under the tutelage of Murray Griffin, William Frater & Harold Freedman.

Worked as a freelance illustrator, display, design artist and art instructor before extensive overseas travel.

Attended the University for Foreigners in Florence.

Studied oil painting with Shirley Bourne.

EXHIBITIONS
1976 Abacus Gallery, Ashburton (oils).

1983 First watercolour exhibition with fibre artist Dorothy Payne – and since exhibits annually in solo and group showings.

Watercolour portraits were hung in the 1993, 94 & 97 Portia Geach Memorial Award Exhibition, Sydney.
Annual Exhibitions with the Twenty Melbourne Painters’ Society Inc and the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors Inc.

ACTIVITIES
1977 & 78 assistant artist to state artist Harold Freedman on the History of Transport Mural and the History of Geelong mosaic.

1992 Artist-in-Residence at Melbourne Grammar School.

Margaret has taught watercolour and life drawing and has conducted workshops throughout Australia. She is a signatory member of the Victorian Artists’ Society, a member of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters & Sculptors Inc and the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society Inc.

She conducted annual painting tours to Venice, Florence, Rome, Cinque Terre and Sicily for 17 years through Margaret Cowling Arts.

Current studio in Creswick, central Victoria.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Australian Artist Magazine” – June 1989 – “How to tackle figure painting in watercolour”
“Australian Watercolourist Painters: 1780 to the Present Day” – Jean Campbell
“Artists and Galleries of Australia” – Max Germaine 1990
“A Dictionary of Women Artists of Australia” – Max Germaine 1991
“More than Just Gum Trees” – Juliet Peers 1993
“The Australian Encyclopedia of Art” – Alan McCulloch 1994
“90 Years of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society” – publ. 2008 TMPS Inc.

Margaret Cowling
20 Capel St West Melbourne 3003
(03) 9326 8743
0438 29 8743

Contact Margaret regarding availability of paintings
email

Maggie Chiara Cowling

Painting has always been an essential part of Maggie’s life. As the daughter of a professional artist, she considered painting a natural medium of expression.

She has shown her paintings and drawings in eight solo exhibitions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010, two in 2012, 2013), three joint exhibitions (2002, 2004, 2011) and participated in numerous group exhibitions (most recently 2014, 2017 and 2020). Since 2011 she has been ‘Artist in residence’ at the Alma Doepel historic schooner restoration works, and continues to paint this beautiful vessel and the volunteers labouring to restore her. (See http://almadoepel.com.au/ and https://almadoepelchronicles.wordpress.com/). She has also illustrated children’s books.

Maggie’s first medium is watercolour, since it never ceases to impress her with its whimsical spontaneity, its capacity for a variety of styles and applications, but especially its fluidity and potential for capturing light. She finds the alchemy of watercolour most urgent and immediate when painting en plein air.

With a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Letters from the University of Melbourne, her academic background is mainly classical studies, language, Italian history and history of art. She has painted extensively in Italy, as well as conducting art tours there. She has also studied visual arts (painting and ceramics) at Ballarat University College. From time to time she has tutored in painting and drawing.

Maggie Chiara Cowling
1 Mantell Street, Coburg North 3058
(03) 9354 3363
0438 298 741

email