Dez left school at 15 after being offered an apprenticeship in the signwriting industry. During that time a family friend showed Dez's drawings to his employer, but as he was struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia, Dez never imagined a career as a fine artist, so signwriting became his primary creative outlet.

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After a rewarding 55-year career as a signwriter, Dez semi-retired, and encouraged by his wife, returned to his first passion – fine art. As a mature-age student at Adelaide Central School of Art, Dez rediscovered the drawing and painting skills that had developed over decades of working with brush and paint.

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Dez enjoys the challenge of exploring different mediums, styles and genres, believing that every new approach offers an opportunity to learn, grow and evolve as an artist. Rather than settling into a single style, Dez embraced experimentation and the creative possibilities it brings.

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His work has been exhibited in a number of galleries and is held in private collections, as well as with friends and clients. He has also completed numerous portrait commissions. Every painting is an opportunity to push his creative boundaries and share his personal perspective of the world.

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