Ross Charles Smith

Ross Charles is a Wiradjuri man who has developed skills that have been passed down from one Aboriginal generation to the next by means of his great grandfather, grandfather and his father, renowned Aboriginal artist Ross Smith. They were traditional craftsmen, skilled in the art of making boomerangs and other Aboriginal artefacts, and they passed those skills along to Ross Charles who has followed closely in their footsteps. His grandmother was also skilled painter, and was one of his main influences in the area of painted art.

Ross Charles uses vibrant colours and striking designs to tell his stories and share his culture with others. Ross Charles worked with his father since his early teens honing his skills and craft in a number of mediums including canvas, boomerangs and Yidakis, which he would both harvest and design. Ross Charles traditional and culturally influenced art has also been used for custom designs, putting people’s stories down using traditional story telling methods and in the design of tattoos.

He has also successfully exhibited and sold his work at a local, national and international level, which include regular exhibits at the Gosford Regional Gallery as well as being a regular participant in the WUPA@Wanaruah Art Exhibition and Trail, an annual event held in the Pokolbin wine region of the Hunter Valley NSW.