Described as traditional landscapes with an impressionistic twist, Mr Gibbs paints in all manner of mediums without the use of his right hand. 

Mr Gibbs was born without a fully-formed right hand and suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of six weeks due to emergency heart surgery that left him with an acquired brain injury. 

Despite this, he has pursued his dreams and built a career out of painting after spending many years as a karate instructor. 

Mr Gibbs said his painting is a way he can express himself without judgement or limitation.

“How the paintings turn out all depends on how I feel on the day I am painting it,” he said. 

“I take a photo of a landscape and then I change it around to make it more pleasing for the viewer but I have to take things like light and shadow into account as well.”

He uses many methods to create his artworks from watercolour, oils, and pastels to pen and wash techniques using a mix of painted and drawn ink.  

While Mr Gibbs has had to find other ways of reaching his goals, he has never let his disability slow him down. 

“There have been times I have found to be hard but I don’t let that get to me,” he said. 

“I see other people doing new and exciting things and I think to myself ‘if they can do it, I can do it’.”

“I have always managed to find other ways around or other ways of doing things and while it might take me a little longer, I will always find a way to do things that works for me.”

He said through his painting and exhibitions, Mr Gibbs has learnt a lot about himself and has found an outlet for his creativity that is not limited by his disability. 

“Painting has given me a chance to be very creative and to express myself through different modes,” he said. 

“There is also no disability in my art; if people just look at my art at face value, they wouldn’t know the artist has a disability.”

Mr Gibbs third exhibition will be on display at Mattelles Cafe in The Block Arcade from October 2 to December 1.