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Robyn te Velde, Career Highlights

1965 ROBYN HAY WINS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR, AND TURNS DOWN A BALLET SCHOLARSHIP WITH THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
At 15yrs of age, Robyn Hay had a serious decision to make when she turned down a scholarship with the Australian Ballet Company taking up an apprenticeship in hairdressing. Winning Apprentice of the Year in the Illawarra in her first year, Robyn went on to win her first State championship in her second year which launched the beginning of an unparalleled career in the hair and fashion industry over four decades.

1967 FIRST SALON OPENS
'Robyn Hay Hairstylist' opens in Wollongong just halfway through her apprenticeship, employing one senior and one apprentice. Her salon was an instant success, employing a staff of 8 by the end of the first year of trading. Robyn continued to win apprentice of the year at state level throughout her apprenticeship.

1969 NEWLY WED AND A NEW NAME:
Robyn David - Now a senior hairdresser, she wins her first 'Open State Championship'- breaking all the records and new ground for females - as the first ever female to win the event, the youngest and the first State winner 'outside Sydney'.

1970 LARGER PREMISES OPEN
A new trading name, 'Robyn David Hair Design' opens in a prime location, Crown Street, Centre of Wollongong and by the end of her first year of business Robyn employed 26 hairdressers, the largest single salon in Australia at the time.

1970-74 WINNER of OPEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 5 years in succession.

1974 WINNER NATIONAL TITLES
Staged in Melbourne Robyn became the highest point scorer for Australia's first ever hairdressing World Cup Team, as the only female and youngest team member.

1974 'WORLD CHAMPION' - GOLD MEDALIST in Paris (Rose Dior) Sponsored by L'Oreal Paris, Australia

1976 SELECTED CAPTAIN & COACH
for Australia's second World Cup Team in New York, Robyn personally winning the silver and bronze medals. Sponsored by L'Oreal Paris, Australia

1976 NEW TITLE 'AUSTRALIA'S FIRST LADY OF HAIRDRESSING'
Robyn David continued to train her apprentices (over 100) and staff for championship work over the following decade and a half, with record breaking success, providing unique opportunities and career starts for so many.

1978 PRESTIGE APPOINTMENT
As National Fashion Director and Artistic Team Leader for L'Oreal Paris, Australia Robyn became one of Australia's leading educators and motivators, designing hair fashion releases and demonstrating trends and techniques in major seminars nationally and internationally. Robyn became a regular international traveller over a decade during the glamorous 80's representing Australia for L'Oreal Paris, attending Prèt-a-Porter and major international runway shows in the fashion capitals of the world - Paris, London, Milan and New York. She designed and dressed hair for many of the world's super models including Elle McPherson with such designers as Oscar De Laurent, Givanche, Thierry Mugler, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld Christian Dior, Chanel and others.

80's to early 90's PRODUCED MAJOR FASHION SHOWS
Travelling all states of Australia and New Zealand. Robyn was commissioned to co ordinate and choreograph major runway hair and fashion shows where she drew from her earlier skills in 'dance' and music. She was responsible for liaising with leading fashion designers throughout Australia, many who designed entire collections and 'one offs' for these elite shows. Robyn became one of the most sought after coordinator/stylists for magazine covers and features along with fashion shows and shoots, where she was responsible for hair, makeup, fashion, accessories and general composition.

1983 'ROBYN INTERNATIONAL' OPENS
A new chapter following her divorce after a 14 year marriage, contributed to the decision to change her trading name, deleting her married name, 'David'.
As a well recognised internationally acclaimed hair and fashion designer Robyn also employed many stylists with backgrounds from various other countries, maintaining an international operation, and so her newest premises and the trading name would reflect just this, as 'Robyn International'. The two storey, newly renovated, 'cutting edge design' building offered her clientele the latest in a one stop - full house, offering fashion, hair, beauty and nails. The building won 'Best Design -Renovation' in the Illawarra Building Awards.

1984 'ROBYN INTERNATIONAL' ACADEMY
is established, offering courses and workshops in Personal Development, Life Coaching and Total Image to school leavers, the unemployed and a variety of specialised groups requiring career preparation and image refining. This was a training facility that opened new doors, contributing to the start of many careers and the success of hundreds of young Illawarrians. The success of Robyn's training (a record number of apprentices - over a hundred) was reflected by the many hairdressers who went on to run successful salons of their own, involving two generation employment, many of which today, are still going strong. The story was told when the last few apprentices Robyn trained found themselves on their TAFE day, under the instruction of teachers in the hairdressing department, who were in fact, Robyn's first two apprentices.

1980's FASHION WRITER & FEATURES COLLUMNIST
In the mid 80's, still based in Wollongong, Robyn initiated and established the first Fashion Page (Eve) with the Illawarra Newspapers, first the Advertiser and then the Illawarra Mercury, over a 3 year period. She also became a feature writer for a number of national trade magazines.

1986 ILLAWARRA BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
Robyn was aged only 36 when she won this award, already clocking up 20 years in business with unparalleled achievement and success.

1988-90 FASHION LABEL LAUNCHED
Robyn's creativity over-flowed into the fashion industry with her first label, (glamorous - relaxed resort wear) expanding into 16 different stockists in the first year throughout Sydney, Illawarra, South Coast, Bowral and the ACT. The label would remain a success story, but would become a specialised, clientele based business as Robyn's career was further challenged with another National appointment that this time required her to base in Sydney.

1990 A NEW CORPORATE APPOINTMENT & A NEW CHAPTER IN SYDNEY
Robyn is appointed National Technical Manager for Clairol Professional, a branch of Bristol Myer Squibb, an international company. Robyn's title as National Technical Manager and Artistic Director began with a month at the New York head quarters. On return to Australia Robyn moved from Wollongong to Sydney, relinquishing all other business interests. And so it was - Robyn sold the last of her salons in Wollongong to her last apprentice. Her new role meant she was responsible for establishing the education department for the company in its entirety, training technical managers in all states of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. Robyn successfully launched the new product into Australasia over a 3 year period, further enhancing her reputation in the hairdressing industry as a leading technician, outstanding motivator and one of the worlds most acclaimed platform artists. She remained with the company as a consultant for special overseas projects for a further 2 years, during which time she re married to become Robyn te Velde.

1995 CORPORATE IMAGE CONSULTANT FOR ACCOR
In the later years of the 90's, Robyn provided regular seminars and workshops for many of Sydney's leading salons and a number of international hotels, including the Accor group of hotels at Darling Harbour - the Grand Mecure, the Ibis and the Novotel. She also provided training for the 'elite' RAAF VIP Flight Stewards.
At the other end of things, Robyn provided a one week course, for a Wollongong group of unemployed youths set up by the CES, completely complimentary, and the same for another large group, mostly from third generation unemployed families from Sydney's Western Suburbs. Robyn's success with both groups on completion was inspirational, with the majority gaining employment and others enrolling in skill share programmes with greatly improved attitude notable enthusiasm. Channel Nine completed a documentary during the training period and featured the progress of the students on a programme called 'LOOKING GOOD'. During this 10 year period in Sydney Robyn continued to design hair and fashion by appointment from her Sydney studio. She also continued to stage fashion shows with leading charities.

2000 THE HALF WAY MARK
Turning 50 at the turn of the century, after a decade in Sydney, Robyn makes a decision to return to Wollongong with thoughts of semi retirement to enjoy her first grandchild. Her plan would also include a down-scaled business, where she could service a smaller, specialised clientele by appointment. . . and perhaps at last, dabble in a little art!

2004 FINE ARTS
Due to an extraordinary and all consuming career, now spanning 40 years, Robyn's life long wish to paint is finally realised. Studying Fine Arts at West Wollongong Tafe, Robyn received a number of distinctions at the end of her first year. She entered her first exhibition/competition and won the People's Choice prize along with 'Highly Commended' from the judges. The painting, 'A Port Hole Size View' was auctioned at the Mt Kembla Art Prize Ball, fetching a record $3000.

2005 06
Completing her 3rd year, part time in Fine Arts, Robyn has accumulated 7 Art Prizes which included both Judges Prizes and a number of People's Choice awards. Several of her paintings have been sold- fetching record prices at Art Prize - charity auctions. One of her paintings was acquired by Wollongong Council for $5500 and was exhibited at the Wollongong City Gallery during 2006. Another painting titled 'Return Fare Please' was just also acquired in 2006 by BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal, when the President, Colin Bloomfield was quoted saying "The painting is bright, bold and tells a story and is highly entertaining at the same time." The same painting also won the 'People's Choice, fetching the highest bid at the Art Prize Action. In just 3 years - sales of Robyn's paintings have collected just over $20,000.

2007 A Collection of Robyn's work
will be exhibited in November, December '07 at Australia's Premier Art Gallery, Art Gallery Collections Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Robyn is also planning and preparing her first solo exhibition to be staged in 2008.

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Robyn te Velde's Path to Fine Arts

Art was always in the wings when at 15 yrs of age (in the 1960's) I turned down a scholarship with the Australian Ballet Company, and a commission by the David Jones gift card department, for my line of hand painted cards at the time, featuring quirky little pop-fashion figures with funky hairdos. I could not keep up to the demand as my hairdressing career rapidly became all-consuming. Half way through my apprenticeship at 17yrs of age, I opened my first salon with a line up of awards and trophies featuring in the window, and before the end of my first year in business I employed a staff of eight. The rest is now history!

Whether a comb, a pair of scissors, a roll of fabric, or paint brush, Robyn te Velde's endless creativity and multi faceted artistic ability has been described by some as "raw and rare"¹. She has carved a career that now spans over 40 years of spectacular achievement, unparalleled in her industry in Australia.

Based in Wollongong the formerly known World Champion Hairdresser, Robyn David was proprietor to a number of Australia's largest award winning salons for over 35 years. Internationally acclaimed in hair and fashion, Robyn broke all the records early in her career when state, national & international awards rained down on her like confetti², including World Hairdressing Championship events. Winning the Gold Medal in Paris (1974) and Silver and Bronze in New York (1976) Robyn went on to be named Australia's first lady of hairdressing. Selected to represent Australia as National Artistic Director for L'Oreal of Paris for ten years, she worked along side leading international hair and fashion designers in the fashion capitals around the world. Quite the entrepreneur, she choreographed and produced major hair and fashion shows throughout Australia during the eighties which employed all her artistic talent from hair and fashion design to choreography, set design and music. Amongst other things in the eighties, Robyn won Illawarra Business Woman of the Year and became a feature writer for a number of national trade magazines. She also introduced the fashion page to the Illawarra Advertiser and then went on to establish the local fashion pages for the Illawarra Mercury. However, the eighties would also mark the end of this Wollongong chapter, when in 1990 Robyn sold her last salon to accept an appointment as National Technical and Artistic Director for another major international company, Clairol Professional. After a month's training at headquarters in New York USA, Robyn relocated to Sydney, where she was responsible for establishing the Education Department for the company, recruiting and training technical managers for all states of Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia.

After a decade based in Sydney and reaching the 'halfway mark' at the turn of the century, Robyn's 50th birthday saw her return to the seaside city of Wollongong. Semi retirement on the horizon, Robyn scaled down to an appointment-based business in order to enjoy her first grandchild and just perhaps, some time to dabble in Fine Arts, her life-long wish.

Half a century since this incredible journey began Robyn is already making marks in Fine Arts. After just three years part time, she won numerous art prizes along with the 'People's Choice' in several major art exhibitions held in the Illawarra. A number of her prize winning paintings have gone on to fetch record prices at the Art Prize balls and auctions. One of Robyn's paintings titled 'Wollongong Rocks' was recently acquired by Wollongong Council for $5,500 and has been featured at the Wollongong City Gallery. More recently, Robyn won the 'People's Choice' yet again at one of the Illawarra's leading Art Prize exhibitions. The painting titled 'Return Fare Please' also attracted the highest bid at the Mt Kembla Art Prize Auction, acquired by BHP Billiton, Illawarra Coal, where it now hangs in the foyer of the head office in Port Kembla. In 2007 another of Robyn's paintings titled Sunday Hangover was acquired for $4,500 by Wollongong Council.

In 2008, as an emerging artist - now full time, Robyn has established exhibits of her work in Australia's Premier Art Gallery and Functions Centre on the Gold Coast, Qld and at Articles Fine Art Gallery at Stanwell Tops, NSW. She is currently producing a body of work for a major art exhibition event, Wine Women & Song to be staged at Wollongong City Gallery in October, 2008 which will feature a synergy of performance paintings with a live ensemble of members from the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra featuring the Principal Conductor, Maestro, Carlos Alvarado - together with a compliment of contemporary dance.

Taking 'expressionism' to an amusingly narrative level, Robyn's art is unique and includes compositions of mixed media and 'found items' that often feature in her assemblages. Elements of humour and the unexpected are fast becoming the hallmark of her work.

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Artist Statement - Robyn te Velde 2006

For me it is a joy and a privilege to be indulging finally, in real art with all its freedom. While creating, cutting and sculpting hair and fashion, there is always a person, an appointment and a time frame limiting or influencing the outcome of the creation. No canvas ever speaks out half way through the job with a change of heart or to answer a mobile phone. As a free spirited artist, I can now work whenever creative inspiration beckons . . . which is very often.

I have always embraced a challenge and never feared change and although my art to date has already established significant identity, I do not plan to be entirely locked into any one style, subject or medium. I indulge the adventure of experiment and thrive on variety. I am inspired by the unknown and am most stimulated when I break new ground . . . and conquer the process. Every new work must be exciting, even daring, with a measure of mischief or a twist of humour.

My work to date has been mainly oil paintings and mixed media assemblages. Most of my work could be described as expressionistic with elements of surrealism - and often includes an entertaining narrative value. Other works are lightly abstract encompassing landscape and portraiture. I plan to involve sculpture and photography in future works and exhibitions from time to time.

The formal qualities of my art explore strong sculptural form and playful proportioning while vigorous texture contrasts accentuate the dimensional dynamics of my art. The works are energetic with buoyant, flowing lines that deliver a sensation of life and movement, and often reflect the distinctly stylised line of the Art Nouveau period, Romanticism - even threads that connect back to Celtic art. Strong tonal value and confident use of palette complement an adventurous play on perspective and subject matter.

While I am influenced by a number of great artists and periods - too many to mention - there is no single or constant influence that really affects my own art, other than a deep and passionate, life-long love affair with the vigorous and wiry works of the great Van Gogh. His presence is often felt.

My aim is to provide creatively stimulating art in thought provoking and eye-catching compositions with elements of the unexpected that are distinctly avant-garde or surreal. It is a gratifying experience to know your art is engaging viewers on a profound level, invoking a reaction - from instant curiosity to strong comment and even group conversation. The ultimate reward - being the materialisation of a sale to a 'really keen' buyer.

Generally I aim to produce art that is conceptually inspiring, skilfully executed, intriguing and above all - original.

A recent quote, printed in the Illawarra Advertiser News (11/10/06 page 16), about one of my paintings (which won the 'People's Choice', attracting the highest bid at an Art Prize Auction) when it was acquired by Colin Bloomfield, president of BHP Billiton - Illawarra Coal stated:

"The painting is bright and bold, tells a story and is highly entertaining at the same time."

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