Tyson Evans, born in May 1982, achieved great things against great odds.
From birth, he was unable to bend the top knuckle of his right thumb and had a considerable tremor in his right hand. At age five he underwent heart surgery. Tyson led a full and productive life and this exhibition is a sample of his dedication to art.
At nine, Tyson took up a one year scholarship to study at the Queensland Art Gallery, after which he chose to continue learning with his mother, a private art teacher. He enjoyed working in pastels, oils, acrylics and water colour pencils.
Achievements
Tyson exhibited and demonstrated painting techniques at art shows and he won several prizes at the Redcliffe Show and with the Redcliffe Art Society.
At the 1995 Caloundra Arts Festival he met Michael Oberhofer who encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a wildlife artist and, in April 1997, he began to concentrate on becoming an exhibiting member of the Wildlife Artist Association.
The Blue Iris Art Gallery at Palmwoods recognised his outstanding talent and regularly displayed his work. Five of his works were accepted by the Call of the Bush Gallery at Nambour.
He held a solo exhibition at the Peninsula Coffee Lounge at Kippa-Ring and exhibited at the Scarborough Fair Art Gallery.
Besides a promising career as an artist, Tyson's achievements were extraordinary. He wrote stories and poetry, was involved in speech and drama and was Dux of Year 9 at Grace Lutheran College.
As a sportsman, he represented his school in athletics, held the Royal Life Saving Bronze Medallion, was a member of the college open rugby league team, and a member of the Clontarf Beach Life Saving Club.
He was a keen kayak paddler and a member of the Newport Waters Canoe Club Junior Team which won the Brisbane Valley 100 race in 1996. He also achieved honours in pianoforte, a Certificate of Distinction in the Theory of Music and enjoyed playing the clarinet.
Tyson was a Lance Corporal in the 3rd Redcliffe Boys' Brigade, a Sunday school teacher at Clontarf Beach Baptist Church and a Duke of Edinburgh Awardee.
Tyson passed away in 1997, at the age of 15.