William Brian Gaston ( 1917 - 1993)

William Brian Gaston (1917-1993) was an eminent watercolourist and architect was born in Sydney on 10 September 1917 to William Gaston, salesman, and Leila Marthe Alcock. He attended Sydney Technical High School prior to enrolling in the architecture diploma course at Sydney Technical College in the late 1930s. In accordance with the Architects Act 1921, successful completion of this six-year course gave graduates the right to register as architects and qualification for membership of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
After serving in the Australian Imperial Force with the Royal Australian Engineers between 1943 and 1946, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, Gaston worked in London with Robert Atkinson, architect, illustrator and watercolourist, before returning to Sydney in February 1948 to pursue his profession as an architect.
Gaston studied classical drawing and painting under Julian Ashton, at the eponymous Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, and attended classes at the Royal Art Society for many years. A long-standing exhibitor with the RAS, of which he had membership since 1970, he became an associate in 1982.
In 1968, Gaston began exhibiting with the Australian Watercolour Institute. Elected a member in 1971, Gaston served as Honorary Secretary from 1979-1984 before acceding to the office of President in 1985 and was awarded Life Membership in 1993.
He exhibited at: Holdsworth Gallery (1987, 1988), Mosman Gallery (1988), Leonard Gallery (1988) and is held in institutional and private collections in Australia, Europe and the UK.