Old Boy Art
The Nudgee Arts Gala proudly welcomes back a talented group of Old Boys whose creative journeys began during their years at Nudgee.
Spanning different generations, artistic styles and professional paths, their work encompasses painting, drawing, photography and contemporary portraiture, each offering a distinctive perspective shaped by curiosity, experience and personal expression.
Together, these artists demonstrate how creativity nurtured at school can continue to evolve throughout life. We invite Arts Gala guests to discover their work and reconnect with their stories at the 2026 Arts Gala.
Tom Sands (NCOB 2022)
I am Tom Sands, a northside local and a Nudgee old boy of 2022. Currently, I am 21 years old and studying the EB04 Bachelor of Architectural Design / Bachelor of Built Environment (Landscape Architecture) at QUT. For the past year and a half, I have also been working in the built environment, predominantly as a labourer but now as a student Landscape Architect.
Getting to witness more of my city since finishing school has made me reflect on how, as Australians, in the present day, we live in an amazing accumulation of things from everywhere. I believe that being curious about the mundane and everyday allows us to know more about the places we come from and why we function the way we do.
Currently, my artwork aims to reference Australiana as well as the current state of the suburban environment. What we eat, what we see and what makes up our daily lives. This is a theme which I have carried through from high school and have been developing over time.
Nudgee has played a significant role in developing my skills and thinking as both an artist and a designer. With support from staff members and the Nudgee art gala, I began selling my artwork in 2021, when I was in grade 11. Since then, I’ve continued to paint artwork for people in my spare time and will continue to do so in the future.
Jem Harper (NCOB 2025)
My name is Jem Harper. I’m 18 and am currently in my first year of Medicine at UNSW. I feel privileged to be displaying work this year at the Arts Gala.
I would like to credit my wonderful Visual Arts teacher, Katherine Ellis, for her great support and encouragement. I always loved my VA classes at Nudgee, and to have a teacher who really believed in me and in my ability to pursue art outside of school has always meant a great deal. I strongly encourage all young people to explore a creative pursuit – it’s amazing when you find something that truly engages you. It can be such a welcome escape from the outside world.
For many years I have enjoyed drawing animals, particularly lions, and this lion is my favourite piece to date. More recently, I have also completed several commissioned portraits of family pets.
The works exhibited in this exhibition have titles that reflect each subject, with the lion named using its Latin scientific name and the zebra titled Zuri, the Swahili word for "beautiful." My work The Treacy Building celebrates the historic heart of Nudgee College, a place that held special meaning for me as a boarder from Coffs Harbour. Created in watercolour and fineliner using a photograph by Brody Grogan as a reference, it captures a familiar view from the Rose Garden. It reflects the beauty and memories of a place I proudly called home.
While uni life is keeping me busy, I still find every opportunity I can to draw or paint. I’m currently trying to build my profile on Instagram and Facebook and would love to shift my hobby to more of a commission-based business
