About The Artist

Raymond Mather - Founder of ART1

Created from a lifelong practice spanning choreography, photography, and curatorial work.

ART1 is an independent, artist-led fine art photography platform established by Australian photographic artist Raymond Mather. His practice spans over forty years across dance, theatre, and photography, informing a photographic approach grounded in movement, abstraction, and emotional presence.

ART1 presents curated collections of limited-edition photographic works, each produced using museum-grade archival materials and issued with Certificates of Authenticity. The platform reflects a commitment to sustainability, clarity of editioning, and the long-term stewardship of a coherent body of work.

Learn more about Raymond’s creative process and artistic philosophy in the FAQ - The Artist’s Process section, or view Raymond Mather’s CV for selected exhibitions, awards, and professional credits.

From Dance to Photography

Originally trained as a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer, Raymond’s early career moved through the spotlight of stage and screen, including choreography for Strictly Ballroom the movie, before evolving into event direction, exhibition curation, and arts advocacy.

His practice has included roles as gallery owner, educator, exhibition technician, and curator across cultural institutions such as:

Tanks Arts Centre
Cairns Regional Gallery
Centre of Contemporary Arts Cairns (CoCA)

Alongside this, Raymond established Cr8Studios, a community-focused space supporting exhibitions, digital media, and collaborative arts practice.

Commercial Galleries

Raymond’s career has also extended into the commercial gallery sector, where he worked with:

The Artery, Darlinghurst, Sydney - Contributed to the gallery’s inception and operational systems in 2005, supporting its establishment as a contemporary Aboriginal art gallery. Worked as a casual Art Consultant during two phases (2005-2011 and 2020-2024), advising clients, supporting sales, and engaging with national and international collectors.

Wentworth Galleries, Sydney - Served as an Art Consultant for one of Australia’s leading commercial galleries, with a national and international collector base.

These roles deepened his understanding of both the creative and market sides of the art world, shaping ART1 as a platform that balances artistic integrity with accessibility for collectors and designers.

Leadership & Community Engagement

Beyond his own practice, Raymond has played active roles in arts leadership and community development:

Served on the LGPAG (Library & Gallery Project Advisory Group) for Coffs Harbour City Council, Cultural and Civic Space, named Yarrila Place, contributing to regional cultural strategy and programming.

Co-founded Role Models fundraising events with the Northcott Society, using performance and creativity to raise awareness and support for people with disabilities.

These experiences reflect his lifelong commitment to inclusion, community wellbeing, and the role of the arts in social change.

The Work

At the core of this platform is the work itself.

Raymond’s photographic work explores abstraction, human traces, and poetic moments across landscape, object, and environment. Each artwork begins with his original photographic capture and is developed individually through a layered digital process refined since 2006. Working at the edge of destruction, Raymond pushes each image until a new artistic version emerges, using visual tension, artefacts, and density as expressive elements that preserve and heighten the essence of the original moment.

Over time, photography became Raymond’s primary medium, a place where stillness meets motion, and presence finds form.

Drawing from decades living throughout Australia, from the dance halls of Sydney to the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland, his collections reflect a deep connection to place, pattern, and emotional resonance.

Signature collections such as Pop Art Flowers, Vivid Country, and Dancing into the Light highlight his distinctive approach to colour, memory, and presence.

To date, Raymond has participated in, and been selected for, dozens of group and solo exhibitions across Australia, reflecting both the breadth of his practice and his sustained engagement with independent and institutional contexts.

He has also documented important public and private collections, including digitisation projects for Coffs Harbour City Council and Cairns City Council’s Public Art Collection.

Selected Context

Raymond Mather’s photographic work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Australia and selected for national art prizes, including the Moran Photographic Portrait Prize, the Percival National Photographic Portrait Prize, and the STILL National Still Life Award. His works are held in public and regional museum collections and documented in institutional archives, including the Coffs Harbour City Collection.

Selected Exhibitions & Awards

Moran Photographic Portrait Prize - Semi-Finalist

STILL: The National Still Life Award (STILL Salon) - Selected

Northern Exposure, Glasshouse Regional Gallery - Selected

Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, Townsville - Finalist

SHIMMER Photographic Biennale, South Australia - Selected, Solo Exhibition

New Year: New Work, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery - Selected

Lethbridge 20,000, Brisbane - Finalist

The ART1 Philosophy

Each limited edition fine art print available through ART1 is professionally produced using museum-grade archival materials, ensuring depth, longevity, and timeless value. Every piece is signed, numbered, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity in editions of 50.

ART1 artworks are captured, edited, curated, and editioned by the artist. AI may assist administrative or editorial processes, but does not author artworks.

Created for collectors, designers, and art lovers seeking bold, uplifting works, ART1 bridges the worlds of fine art and interior design with accessible, limited edition collections - explore all collections, each crafted to uplift, inspire, and connect.

At its heart, ART1 is guided by joy, presence, and connection, values that have shaped Raymond’s lifelong creative journey. Now entering a new chapter marked by travel and global sharing, he continues to explore the world with camera in hand and an open heart.

Enjoy the ride,
Raymond

Raymond’s creative journey has been profiled in national media, including The Daily Telegraph feature “A New Creative Force Hits Coffs” by journalist Stephanie Hunt, which captured the early vision of his CR8 Studios and the emergence of his photographic practice.
Read the full article

For enquiries or commissions, visit our Contact Page or explore the FAQ for details about ordering and production.