Wales. Having first entered the competition in 1997 with a controversial (and ultimately ruled out) submission of a portrait of the ABC’s cherished cartoon characters Bananas in Pyjamas, Ploeg has since won the coveted Archibald People’s Choice Award in 1999 (subject: Australian Indigenous actress Deborah Mailman) and in 2007 (subject: Australian conductor and musical director George Ellis), as well as its Packing Room Prize in 2004 (subject: Australian journalist Jana Wendt). Furthermore, Ploeg has been selected to the Salon des Refuses of Sydney’s S.H. Ervin Gallery, termed the Alternative Archibald, three times with a People’s Choice win there in 2000 (subject: Australian actor Richard Roxburgh) ¬– concurrent to having had his portrait of Paralympian athlete Louise Sauvage competing in the ‘Sporting’ Archibald held in conjunction with the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He has also entered paintings to the Archibald Prize of singer Ben Lee, fashion identity Peter Morrissey, actor Richard Roxburgh and art collector and philanthropist John Schaeffer AO (in 2014). Collections Australian Ballet School, Melbourne Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian War Memorial CERA – Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Florey Institute (Melbourne) Melbourne Cricket Club National Portrait Gallery of Australia St John Ambulance (Canberra) The Australiana Fund The University of Melbourne – Economics The University of Melbourne – Law School Private School Collections (Victoria): Camberwell Grammar School Lauriston Girls School Queens College As well as numerous private collections in Australia, the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden & USA. Commissions Ploeg has painted portraits of clients with international renown, such as pop star Ben Lee, fashion identity Peter Morrissey, film actor Richard Roxburgh, art collector & philanthropist John Schaeffer AO, the late ‘Mr Movies’ Bill Collins OAM and Dr Paul Scully Power - Australia’s first astronaut in space. The lion’s share of his assignments originates from commercial and corporate institutions, which saw him paint, for example, Mrs Tamie Fraser AO for the Australiana Fund in 2018 and Prof. Fred Hilmer AO, eighth Vice-Chancellor of The University of New South Wales and Deputy-Chairman of the Westfield Group, with the work included in the 20/20 exhibition at the Australian National Portrait Gallery (2018). Before committing his entire career to portraiture, Ploeg worked as a trained illustrator for 13 years, having graduated East Sydney’s Design College (now: National Art School) in 1984. His work was commissioned by prestigious department stores, international cosmetic companies, leading advertising agencies and major publishing houses and was regularly featured in