Who’s Hugh?

Hugh graduated from Preston Institute of Technology in 1975 with a diploma in Graphic Design and moved to Queensland in 1976. He worked freelance in several design studios and also worked as a part-time lecturer at the Queensland College of Art (QCA). In 1977 he won the national competition to design the emblem for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. Consequently, he designed all the symbols for each sport and is the only Queensland designer to have his work minted on a 50-cent coin. Following this he was contracted to design its mascot, the now iconic Matilda which is still considered the most memorable of all mascots for Australian Commonwealth and Olympic events.

In 1978 he joined QCA as a full-time lecturer and completed a Dip Ed at Mt Gravatt Teachers College. In 1980 he was offered a position at Ogilvy & Mather and eventually worked at Mojo advertising for 5 years. Hugh worked on famous brands such as XXXX, Golden Circle, and Marina Mirage Resorts. During this time he won numerous local and National awards for his ad campaigns and design work. His relentless passion for this craft led him to work closely with printers perfecting some innovative print techniques which consequently produced the first-ever National gold award for Brisbane printers. 

In 1990 Hugh worked as a freelance designer and eventually founded his own design agency, Creative Plantation. He was the recipient of 100’s of Brisbane Advertising and Design Awards for his work and was eventually inducted into the BADC Hall of Fame for his contribution to the creative industry.

During his career, Hugh was President of the Brisbane Advertising and Design Club and also maintained his attachment with part-time lecturing at QCA and several private providers. In 2018 The Design Institute of Australia inducted Hugh Edwards into their Design Hall of Fame Program, given to the most eminent designers in the country for their significant contribution to Australia’s economic development and cultural identity.

In 2017 Hugh ambitiously decided to enter the Archibald prize with a portrait of Bob Brown, his first painting since art school days some 50 years ago. The painting was selected in the Archibald Salon des Refuses and displayed in the S. H. Ervin gallery in Sydney.

A self-portrait was also selected in the Brisbane Portrait Prize Salon des Refuses 2021 and he has had two other finalists in the Royal Queensland Gallery competitions.