Colin Lee Fairweather

Curator

Dr Breda Carty

Collection

There have been several examples of deaf people who have worked as commercial artists in Australian history – this was one of the few ways they could make a living from their artistic talent. One of these deaf artists was Colin Lee Fairweather (1889-1943).

Colin Lee Fairweather’s deaf brother Alan Fairweather also worked as a photo-engraver for the Daily Mirror newspaper. Alan’s deaf son, Alan Jr, was keen to work as an artist too, but wartime restrictions meant he was not able to.

Scroll to explore

Photograph of Colin Fairweather (date unknown)

From the personal collection of Janine Taylor (used with permission).

This photograph shows Colin Fairweather working at his desk, with his artist’s materials around him (date unknown).

From the personal collection of Janine Taylor (used with permission).

Colin prepared artwork for advertisements. This looks like a draft or preliminary design for an advertisement for ‘Brasso’.

From the personal collection of Janine Taylor (used with permission).

Colin Fairweather’s Deaf nephew, Alan Fairweather (Jr), was well-known in the Sydney Deaf community during the second half of the 20th century. He mentioned his artist uncle Colin in this interview in the video series Heritage in Our Hands (1988).

Colin Lee Fairweather

Welcome to the Deaf History Collections

Feedback