Summary

Robert Forrest (Bob) Preston, born in the UK on 1 January 1942, graduated from Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts having studied fine art and design. In 1973 he migrated to Australia moving first to Innisfail, North Queensland, and later to Townsville where, although continuing to travel widely, he remained. Preston had moved to Townsville to take up a teaching position at TAFE from 1974. He later joined James Cook University (JCU) where he lectured in creative arts for many years.

Preston's body of work, dating from the 1960s, expresses his interest in surrealism and mysticism. He has credited his early studies as a draughtsman in the UK, and later of calligraphy and illumination drawing, with enhancing his practice in painting and mosaics.