From the Lineup to the Living Room, A Perfect Gift for Father’s Day.

Phil Meatchem’s art is a fusion of nostalgia, technical mastery, and a storyteller’s eye. Raised on Manly’s beaches, the surf culture of his youth sparked an enduring passion, one that eventually transformed into a lifelong canvas of creativity .

Surfing remains more than just inspiration, it’s central to Phil’s artistic expression. Explore Phil Meatchem’s artworks below and discover pieces that carry stories, stoke emotion, and captivate the eye.

Three Cool Meatchem Facts:

  • Career Pivot

    After 40 years directing TV commercials, Phil Meatchem swapped cameras for canvases. The gamble paid off and he became an Archibald Prize finalist and twice made the Doug Moran semi-finals, proving reinvention can happen at any stage.

  • Bald Archy Win

    In 2025, Meatchem won the Bald Archy Prize for Despicable Ploy, satirising Peter Dutton as Gru playing chess with nuclear reactors. Witty, sharp, and visually striking. It cemented his skill at political portraiture without overplaying politics.

  • Surf Film Exhibition

    Meatchem painted 20 impressionist works from iconic frames of Morning of the Earth. This 2022 exhibition reimagined Australia’s surf heritage with rich colour, mood, and nostalgia, bridging past and present in one immersive collection.