![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/01\/SteveMay2_82923_tn.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“The painting of James Reyne blends fine-art technique with elements drawn from my custom automotive background, creating a style that mixes realism, grit, and emotional intensity.”<\/p>\n
May has been interested in painting since his school days.<\/p>\n
“I put it aside when I was in the military for a while but I have worked in the automative paintwork industry for many years.”<\/p>\n
May has been an entrant or finalist in many of Australia’s major portrait awards including the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Kilgour Prize and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.<\/p>\n
His work has appeared in many publications and his paintings of Australian musicians and cultural figures have gained significant attention.<\/p>\n
May plans to enter his portrait of James Reyne in the Archibald Prize later this year and is hopeful of success. “It’s all subjective but I am looking forward to seeing how it goes,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I am feeling very positive about this painting.<\/p>\n
“It’s the biggest I’ve done.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CONTEMPORARY artist Steve May has high hopes for his latest work, a portrait of Australian rock icon James Reyne. May met Reyne at an event at the Capitol Theatre Bendigo and visited him at his home in South Yarra to sit for the portrait. “Across my career, I’ve painted a range of prominent Australian cultural […]<\/p>\n