British-born, Sydney-based artist Nicholas Harding, who won the Archibald Prize in 2001 for a painting of John Bell as King Lear, has died from cancer at the age of 66.

Known for his vivid portraits and landscapes, which he painted using thick layers of impasto paint, Harding was also a theatre-lover. His friendship with Hugo Weaving – whom he met when their children were at the same school – opened the door to the Sydney Theatre Company rehearsal room, where Harding would sketch the actors at work, leading to his self-published book, From the Wings.

Nicholas Harding drawing in the wings during a performance of Sydney Theatre Company’s Waiting for Godot, 2013. Photo © Philip Quast

Harding spoke to Limelight about his book for the cover story Drawn to Theatre, published in our November 2020 magazine. With his cancer in remission at the time, his wife Lynne Watkins, suggested he publish some of his theatre sketches from productions including STC’s Waiting for Godot, Endgame, Macbeth, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Wonnangatta, among others.

Born in England...