Artists statement

This portrait celebrates Barry Dickins (1949-2026), an Australian author, playwright, actor and artist. He was born in Reservoir and was best known for his historical dramas about growing up and living in working-class Melbourne. His most well-known work is the award-winning stage play 'Remember Ronald Ryan', a dramatisation of the life and death of Ronald Ryan, the last person to be legally executed in Australia.

Dickins worked primarily in Australia's independent theatre scene, frequently writing plays and collaborating with La Mama Theatre, Malthouse Theatre, Pram Factory, Griffin Theatre Company, fortyfivedownstairs and St Martin Youth Theatre.

Artist Bio
Nick Stella was born in Melbourne in 1952. Stella began work in 1970 as a Trainee Commercial Artist with Kodak (Australia) Pty. Ltd., in Coburg. He completed a Diploma of Art at Phillip Institute of Technology in 1978, and after a few more years working as a Graphic Designer, completed a Graduate Diploma of Education at Melbourne University in 1985. Over the years, Nick has maintained a constant interest in the Visual Arts, completing many sculptures, paintings and printed works. He retired from full-time teaching at the end of 2013, to concentrate on life and making art.