Marina Finlay began her artistic life as an actress. Graduating from NIDA in 1991, she had a career in television, film, and theatre for the next ten years. In 1991 she travelled to Paris and began to draw, in 1992 she had her first solo exhibition at the Holdsworth Gallery in Woollahra NSW. She has had many solo and group shows since. Marina was Judy Cassab’s model for over thirty years. Judy guided and mentored Marina in the art of painting.
Marina is represented in corporate and private collections in Australia and overseas.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
2021 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait of Peter Carroll
2020 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait of Ross Steele
2019 SELECTED Salon de Refuse - portrait of Tim Schultz
2018 FINALIST Archibald Portrait Prize - Peter, Coco & Susan O’Doherty
2017 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait of Keith Robinson
2008 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait of Judy Cassab
2007 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait Margaret Woodward and Lily Lynn
2006 Salon de Refuses - portrait of Hugo Weaving
2005 FINALIST Portia Geach - portrait of Charles Blackman
1998 FIRST PRIZE - North Sydney Noella Byrne Art Prize – for landscape
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Solo Exhibition at Flinders St Gallery, Sydney
2021 Solo Exhibition at Flinders St Gallery, Sydney
2019 Solo Exhibition at Flinders St Gallery, Sydney
2017 Solo Exhibition at Flinders St Gallery, Sydney
2012 Group Exhibition at Charles Hewitt Galleries, Sydney
2010 Solo Exhibition at Charles Hewitt Galleries, Sydney
2008 Solo Exhibition at Charles Hewitt Galleries, Sydney
2002 Exhibition of work with Von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle
2001 Exhibition of work with Von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle
1999 Solo Show at Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney
1996 Solo Show at Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney
1994 Solo Show at Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney
1993 Solo Show at Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney
1992 Solo Show at Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1995-2002 Delmar Gallery, Sydney – various group exhibitions
OTHER EXPERIENCE
1990 -91 Travelled overseas to Europe and started painting
1981-91 Worked as an actress in Television, Film and Theatre
EDUCATION
1981 – Diploma in Acting. National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)