Scott Bevan

THE HARBOUR: A CITY'S HEART, A COUNTRY'S SOUL

Everyone knows Sydney Harbour.  At least, we think we do.  Everyone can see the harbour, whether we have ever been to Sydney or not.  By as little as a word or two, the harbour floats into our mind’s eye. The Bridge.  The Opera House.  Fireworks on New Year’s Eve.  When we see those images, we feel a sense of belonging. No matter who we are or where we’re from, we see the harbour and we feel good.

In this beautiful, authoritative and meditative journey, Scott Bevan takes us from cove to cove, by kayak, yacht and barge to gather the harbour’s stories, past and present, from boat builders, ship captains and fishermen to artists, divers, historians and environmentalists, from signs of ancient life to the submarine invasion by the Japanese and the natural beauty that inspires people every day.

This is the story of Sydney Harbour – a city’s heart and a country's soul.

Simon & Schuster Australia
ISBN 9781925368772

BILL: THE LIFE OF WILLIAM DOBELL

In post-war Australia, William Dobell was a household name. But the most famous artist in the land was a broken man.

His Archibald Prize-winning portrait of Joshua Smith was the subject of a sensational legal case, challenging not only Dobell’s right to the prize, but the very idea of art itself. Dobell won the legal battle but lost so much else. 

This is the story of one of Australia’s greatest artists. It explores how ambition and talent took a working class boy a long way in the world, and how the reaction to one painting almost destroyed him. It’s also a celebration of community, and how one man finally discovered where he belonged – in the unlikeliest of places.

Simon & Schuster Australia
ISBN 9781925030549
ISBN 9781925030563

THE lAKE: Exploring a splendid sheet of water

It is Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, with 174 kilometres of shoreline. It is the heart, soul and lifeblood of a city. And it is only about 100 kilometres north of Sydney. Yet Lake Macquarie is a stunning Australian jewel that relatively few have explored.

Scott Bevan sets out to bring this jewel into the light in The Lake, a poetic and beautiful voyage through words. In his kayak, Scott takes us on a journey right around Lake Macquarie. We travel in and out of its dozens of bays and villages, and around its islands.  

Scott introduces us to the characters who have lived, worked and played on the lake and around its shores, from boatbuilders and environmentalists to scientists and Indigenous leaders, from historians and artists to sailors and adventurers. We learn about the lake’s history, diving into the events that have shaped not just this place but the region. And we look at the challenges the lake faces as it flows into the future.

Above all, we discover why Lake Macquarie is, to use the description of a 19th century visitor, a splendid sheet of water.  

No Shush Press
ISBN: 978-0-6487563-0-9

BATTLE LINES: AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS AT WAR

For as long as Australians have been serving in wars, the victories and losses, battles and faces have been recorded by artists. 

These are the stories of Australian artists who have recorded, been affected by and responded to theatres of war, including Sir William Dargie, Nora Heysen, Ray Parkin, Bruce Fletcher, Rick Amor, Ray Beattie, Wendy Sharpe and Peter Churcher. They paint a vivid picture of the hope and tragedy, inspiration and frustration, humanity and beauty that can be found amid the death and destruction of war. 
These artists have shaped how we see war, immortalising soldiers and battles. From World War II to Vietnam and the war against terrorism, the war artist has opened our eyes and perceptions to historic events that might otherwise have been censored, distorted or forgotten. In the process they have created some extraordinary art – beautiful, harrowing, mesmerising and character defining.

Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781740513296
ISBN: 9781742746692

WATER FROM THE MOON: A BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN FAWCETT

John Fawcett's story is of the triumph of determination in the face of impossible odds. As the Javanese say, like getting water from the moon. Near-death experiences are often the catalyst to re-examine and revitalise a life, but rarely are the results of such an experience so spectacular as in the case of John Fawcett. The successful ceramicist lived life at a frenetic pace until treatment for chronic back pain took him to the brink of death. Rebuilding his life took him to another country, and a new vocation - bringing sight to the cataract blind of Bali.