Bruce Doyle was a prolific artist who did not receive recognition during his lifetime. He died of natural causes in his fifties, after having lived with schizophrenia since his twenties. Many of his works were painted at home while he was an outpatient at Hawthorn Mental Health Clinic.
He held an exhibition at Caulfield Arts Complex in 1990 and the following are excerpts from a press release accompanying that exhibition: Doyle’s paintings are characterised by an exuberance in content and style. His love of the world around him and his enthusiasm for painting radiates from each picture. Expressionist may be one way to describe these works. Doyle himself describes them as abstract realist. “I am a free soul when it comes to my art” said Doyle, who began painting 15 years ago. Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, Doyle also completed a six-month drawing course with Alan Sumner at the National Gallery Art School. This background in drafting and professional training is subtly revealed in the formal qualities of Doyle’s work – in his compositional skill and his exciting sense of colour.”
