WHO IS KENNETH S HUNT?
Self Portrait 2010/11
Kenneth S Hunt (born August 7, 1956 – Fern Tree Gully Vic. Australia)
Grew up, went through school, played local football and cricket etc., to date has lived and worked in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne.
Kens passion for art started at an early age probably spurred on by watching his father paint during his early teen years. Ken gained a few pointers from his father who at the time was being taught by Ambrose Griffin and later by Justus Jorgensen, plus he had the normal school instruction but from the age of 17 Ken has been totally self-taught.
Ken met Helen Charlton in 1979; they married in 1982 and have two children Rachel & Jessica.
Ken has painted continually from the age of 17 but only when time permitted, generally at night or on weekends. Ken has had to work at several jobs to allow him to continue to develop his art and still provide for his family.
Ken’s work history –
1973-1974 as a Storeman/Salesman at Coles
1974-1975 House Painter and decorator with his Grandfather
1976 – 1990 as a Plumber & Water tank maker with his father. Starting as an apprentice and in the later years assisted in running the business until it was closed.
1991 – 1994 Worked with Helen at markets selling rocks and crystals, while still doing a few small plumbing jobs. Ken started a small wholesale gemstone supply business. He worked closely with gem cutter Stan Street and was taught how to cut and grade Australian opal.
In 1994 Ken & Helen bought Monbulk Jewellers and have together run the business since, Monbulk Jewellers has become a successful small business. Ken was able to set up a gallery to display and sell his artwork within this business and he started his first website in 2012 www.masterstouch.com.au. Which has been upgrade to his current site of www.kennethshunt.com and also has www.monbulkjewellers.com which is an fully operational Ecommerce website.
Ken works at his home studio every opportunity he gets which is usually one full day per week and occasionally at night or on weekends. Although Ken over the years has not had the luxury of working full time as an artist he has patiently, quietly, and meticulously practiced his art and developed his skills to an exceptionally high degree.
Art Competitions etc. Basic history
1980 – 1990 Member of Sherbrooke art society and entered several competitions.
Belgrave art show – Tom Roberts and Arthur Streaton awards –
Camberwell and Preston Rotary art shows.
2011 - Re Joined Sherbrooke art society
2000 -2019 Archibald and Doug Moran portrait prizes
Major Competition Finalist
Doug Moran Portrait Prize 2006 ‘The sergeant and the major, Alan Fincher’
Notable Major Exhibits
Archibald entry 2007:- Was chosen and exhibited at Crown Tower Melbourne June /July 2007,
in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2007 ‘From black and white a colourful champion emerges’, Nathan Buckley.
Archibald entry 2008:- Was chosen and exhibited at Park Hyatt Melbourne June /July 2008,
in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2008 ‘The character within the man’, John Stanton.
Archibald entry 2009:- Was chosen and exhibited at Smarts art gallery South Melbourne
June /July 2008, in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2009 ‘Focused’, Stefan Denis.
Archibald entry 2011:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘The Hilton on the Warf ‘Melbourne
July/September 2011, in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2011 ‘54 ‘Self portrait ’, Kenneth S Hunt
Archibald entry 2012:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘The Hilton on the Warf ‘Melbourne
June /July 2012, in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2012 ‘Capturing a writers smile’, Hanifa Deen.
Archibald entry 2013:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘The Hilton on the Warf ‘Melbourne
June /July 2013, in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2013, Gary Ayres.
Archibald entry 2016:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘The Hilton on the Warf ‘Melbourne
June /July 2016, in the ‘The Hidden Faces of the Archibald’
Archibald entry 2016, Ian Goolagong.
Archibald entry 2018:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘Pan Pacific Hotel ‘Melbourne
June /July 2018, in the ‘Hidden Faces’. The Victorian Salon Des Refuses
Archibald entry 2012, Gary Rocket.
Archibald entry 2019:- Was chosen and exhibited at ‘Pan Pacific Hotel ‘Melbourne
June /July 2019, in the ‘Hidden Faces’. The Victorian Salon Des Refuses
Archibald entry 2010, Bert McLees.
Exhibitions: There has been a continual and ever changing exhibition of Ken’s paintings at his business Monbulk Jewellers since it opened in December 1994
and since becoming vacant the shop next door at 100 Main Road has a display of Ken's artwork in the window.