Background

Ellen Lee Osterfield was born in Bendigo central Victoria. Extensive travels around Australia first as a young teenager with her family then as a tour hostess and cook in her twenties with her husband, were directly responsible for nurturing her artistic and literary gifts.

Writing poetry and painting from a young age was a prelude to writing songs from her mid teen years. Her extensive travels were reflected in her music and her paintings. A singing career in the field of Country Music put Ellen on the Australian country entertainment map! A recording contract followed and then a hectic round of making records and appearing on television and radio Australia wide followed on.

A three year engagement as resident entertainer on a cruising restaurant operating from the Port of Echuca in northern Victoria was the last major commitment to the music industry before semi retiring from music to raise a much longed for family. During all of the other phases of her life, Ellen never lost her passion for art and this magnificent country! She particularly enjoys Australian bush scenes and depicting life as it was in "the olden days"!

In 1994 Ellen opened her own art gallery and studio in Bendigo from where she still creates her works of art and writes her stories.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her singing/song writing (3 awards at Parkes/Forbes CM festival and a finalist in at Tamworth's Golden Guitars in 1980.

Her artistic journey has been life long, having been seen with pencil in hand from age 4! Her passion for art grew with each passing year, firstly working in pencil, then on to oils, acrylics, water colour and pastel.

Ellen is well known locally, nationally and internationally and is a member of The Studios and Galleries of the Bendigo region group.

She is also a featured artist at the Potiche Gallery at the Bendigo Pottery!

Most days Ellen can be found in her studio/gallery at her home in Bendigo.