Victoria Kitanov is a multi-award-winning artist and author who enjoys guiding people of all ages tap into their creative core for mindful wellbeing, and achieve their creative potential.

In 2016, she founded ENTREE TO ARTS, but it was not until 2021 that the perfect venue was found for art classes for children and adults, creative workshops including life drawing and portraiture, and her signature PAINT & GRAZE social painting events.

 

VICTORIA HALL SCONE (formerly Scone School of Arts, c.1872) is located in the beautiful Upper Hunter region of New South Wales. It has a warm and creative ambience appreciated by all who enter this lovely space.

An artist of renown in her own right, Victoria admits to painting for the pure pleasure of doing so. Australian maritime themes, railway heritage, and portraiture are some of her favourite genres.

Following her first trip to Hobart for the 2017 Australian Wooden Boat Festival where her partner, David Glasson’s model boats are displayed, Victoria’s career as a marine painter and ‘Victoria Kitanov Fine Art’ was launched.

Victoria has enjoyed a successful career in the Library and Information Industry, the Australian Public Service with the Department of Defence, as a Tour Guide at The Australian War Memorial, and the Royal Australian Navy in library, information, history, and archives, that ultimately propelled Victoria to becoming a marine painter.

A trained fine artist, Victoria started her art career in a commercial art studio, and later as a children’s book illustrator, ultimately creating a name for herself as an official re-illustrator of May Gibbs’ iconic gum nut babies under the May Gibbs Trade Mark in the 1990s.

During her career as an illustrator, Victoria was often invited to speak in schools, entertaining hundreds of children with on-the-spot sketching and audience participation, and guest appearances during Children’s Book Week and related events.

Leaving the freelance illustrators life behind meant she was ready to embark on a new journey, gaining a degree with Honours in History at The University of Sydney in 1998.

Victoria is the author of Claim Your Space: A Beginners Guide to Create Your Own Artist Sanctuary (ISBN 9781922714633) published in 2022.

Her illustrated children’s books & publications include:

Arabella the Smallest Girl in the World by Mem Fox (Ashton Scholastic, 1985; Deaf Edition, 1986).

The Terrible Wild Grey Hairy Thing by Jean Chapman (Ashton Scholastic, 1986).

Hello There by Josephine Crozier (Collins, 1989).

Rotten Eggs by Josephine Crozier (Collins, 1989).

Santa Claws by Mary Small (Collins, 1989).

A Night at Benny’s by Diane Bates (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (HBC), 1990).

The Swap Shop Book (anthology) written & compiled by Ian Bone & Judith Simpson; illustrated by Vicky Kitanov: ‘The Sally Code’ by Ian Bone, ‘The Cat Burglar’ by Ian Bone, ‘How McDougall Topped the Score’ by Thomas e. Spencer, ‘The Kidnapping of Clarissa’ by Robin Klein, and ‘The Christmas Bike’ by Ian Bone (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Enterprises, 1990).

Ten Little Gumnuts (Angus & Robertson, 1990, 1992, May Gibbs ™).

Shatterbelt by Colin Thiele (cover illustration) (Angus & Robertson, 1991).

The Gumnuts Year (Angus & Robertson, 1993; May Gibbs ™).

Pink Stinks by Jean Chapman (Angus & Robertson, 1993, 1994).

Steps to Danger by David Bateson (Eldorado, 1994).

Poppa Pete’s Pizzas by David Bateson (Plantagenet Press, 1995).

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs; retold by Anna Fienberg (Angus & Robertson, 1997); Book 1: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie; Book 2: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at sea; Book 3: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie meet Little Obelia; Book 4: Cuddlepie goes to the Dentist; Book 5: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and the Banksia Men; Book 6: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie go home.

Illustrated children’s publications: 

Lucky Cat Calendar illustrated by Vicky Kitanov (Ashton Scholastic, 1989-1992).

Eyespy Magazine (Ashton Scholastic, 1985-1987)

Whales & Wobbegongs by Brian Mackness; illustrated by Vicky Kitanov, with Deborah Brown & Steve Verhagen (Ashton Scholastic, 1987)

Lucky Magazine (Ashton Scholastic, 1987, 1988)

Unpublished children’s books: 

Nobody’s Granny by Tess Brady (1988).

Poems for Little Angels by Steve Rogers (Plantagenet Press, 1990)

Phantom Skateboard by David Bateson (Eldorado, 1994).

Artwork in publications include:

 The Jetty Mermaids (Artwork & text ©Victoria Kitanov Fine Art), The Kytherian: The Newsletter of the Kytherian Association of Australia (Sept/Oct 2020), p. 42-43

Dogs on Duty: Maritime Mascots. Q&A by Brooke Twyford, in conversation with Marine Artist, Victoria Kitanov, All Hands: A quarterly publication of the Volunteers of the Australian National Maritime Museum, 2020)

Call the Hands (Occasional Paper 85), issue 43, July 2020 by Brooke Twyford. Permission granted by the artist to reproduce original artwork: ‘Australian Work Boat 4011 (379) at Spectacle Island, Sydney’ ©2017 Victoria Kitanov Fine Art.

The Sunday Boat: M.V. ‘Alice May’ ©2017 Victoria Kitanov Fine Art (Watercolour) used on the cover of the members catalogue, Ku-Ring Gai Motor Yacht Club, Cottage Point, NSW

Recent displays & exhibitions featuring Victoria’s artwork include:

Australian Wooden Boat Festival: Model Boat Display, Hobart, Tasmania. Co-exhibited with model boat craftsman, David Glasson (February 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025, and 2027)

Scone Arts & Crafts Incorporated, Members Art Exhibition (2022) and Open Exhibition (September 2023,  2024, 2025)

Australian Society of Marine Artists Silver Anniversary National Online Exhibition (October-November 2021).

Australian Society of Marine Artists National Marine Art Exhibition: Seas of Change, The Royal Art Society, Lavender Bay Gallery (October 2021).

Australian Society of Marine Artists National Marine Art Exhibition: Marine Art Today, Gallery Lane Cove, Lane Cove (September 2018).

M.A.D.S. Milano International Art, Sound & Light Exhibition, Milan, Italy. Artwork exhibited: Heading In: Svitzer Tug Waratah on Sydney Harbour

Light Space Time 16^th International Online Solo Art Exhibition Series Art Competition (Solo Artist: Victoria Kitanov, 1 of only 4 artists selected, December 2020-January 2021),

Light Space Time 10^th Animals International Online Art Exhibition, Special Recognition Category for Excellence in Art (August 2020), and

Light Space Time 10^th Seascapes International Online Art Exhibition, 9^th Place for Heading in: Svitzer Tug Waratah on Sydney Harbour (June 2020).

The Mission to Seafarers 2020 Maritime Art Awards and exhibition, The Relationship of Humanity to the Sea, Melbourne, Victoria (October 2020)

Contemporary Art Gallery Online, 2020 All Water / Seascape Theme, 3^rd Place for Workboat Polaris under Pyrmont Bridge (August 2020)

Classic & Wooden Boat Festival, Australian National Maritime Museum, Pyrmont Bay, Sydney, NSW. Co-exhibit with model boat craftsman, David Glasson (April 2018)

RAW Natural Born Artists Event: Transcend (Sydney, 2018)

Classic & Wooden Boat Festival, Lady Denman Maritime Museum, co-exhibit with model boat craftsman, David Glasson (Jervis Bay, 2017)

RAW Natural Born Artists Event: Visionary, (Canberra, 2015)

RANDOM Art Exhibition (Canberra, 2015)

Paintings & prints in private collections include:

Polaris under Pyrmont Bridge, Polaris Marine Group, James Craig Road, Rozelle NSW

Yendys: Portrait of George McGoogan and an historic 18-foot skiff, J. Birch, Skybridge Financial, Sydney NSW

Portrait of Miss Tildy, The Manager, formerly Astor Private Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania

Grey Day over Cockatoo, O. & J. Cox, St. Luke’s Priory, South Melbourne

Grey Day over Cockatoo, L. Jones & P. Cole, Clareville, NSW

The Jetty Mermaids, M. Capsanis, Northern Beaches, NSW

Yendys: Portrait of George McGoogan and an historic 18-foot skiff, S. McGoogan, Epping, NSW

Portrait of ‘Georgie’, A. & N. Clack, Burford, Oxfordshire, UK

The Sunday Boat: M.V. ‘Alice May’,  K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

‘Alice May’ on the Hawkesbury (versions 1 and 2), K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

‘Alice May’, stern view, Akuna Bay,  K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

The Sunday Boat: M.V. ‘Alice May’,  K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

Portrait of ‘Buddy’,  K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

Portrait of ‘Teddy’  K. Trollope, Balmain, NSW

Bronzewing (RAN HTS 501): portrait of David Glasson and model Harbour Tug Small 501, D. Matthews, Homebush West, NSW

Mischa: Grand Banks Launch GB999QN, S. & D. Novati, Ryde, NSW

Friendly Rivals: Racing Yachts passing Snapper Island on Friday afternoon, K. & J. Boyd, West Ryde NSW

In loving memory of ‘Taffy Dora’, F. & C. Smith, Stony Rise, Tasmania

In loving memory: Portrait of Spice, M. & T. Ryan, Royalla, NSW

In loving memory: Spice and Bravo, M. & T. Ryan, Royalla, NSW

Lyn, ‘Seargie’ and ‘Borneo’, L. Gallimore, Canberra, ACT

Yendys: Portrait of George McGoogan and an historic 18-foot skiff, R. Wilkinson, Mitchell’s Island, NSW

Vincent Dee: portrait of Gary Roberts with model Clyde Puffer (version 1), P. & G. Roberts, Glenorchy, Tasmania

The Master Modeller: portrait of David Glasson, T. & G. Lang, Forster, NSW

‘Lorraine Joy’: Maine Lobster Boat (commissioned as a gift), T. Lang, Forster, NSW

Engagement: Portrait of Donna & Declan, D. & D. McCabe, Medowie, NSW

Amethyst: Australian Work Boat 420, S. Morley, Hornsby Heights, NSW

Tall Ships, Elizabeth Street Pier, Hobart, Tasmania, D. Tuttle, Hobart, Tasmania

Hornby Lighthouse (1858), Sydney Harbour National Park, South Head, near Watsons Bay (‘Porthole’ version), Gift for client’s vessel, Watsons Bay, NSW.

TasPorts Pilot Launch ‘Kelly’, Hobart harbour, Tasmania, Gift for Retiring General Manager of TasPorts, Launceston.

Man Cave: Portrait of Roger Kyle in the old Abbotsford Boat Shed, Sydney, R. Kyle, Abbotsford, NSW

Ribbing Matilda: Portrait of David Glasson and the Standard Motor Launch ex-HMAS Parramatta (I), M. Petrozzi, Balmain, NSW

Built by Bill: Scale model Sydney Ports Corp Tug Marine Towage & Salvage (MTS) ‘Ted Noffs’, B. Elbourne, Newcastle, NSW

Portrait of Maria Capsanis, M. Capsanis, Northern Beaches, NSW