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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Self portrait

2004
Peter Russell-Clarke

synthetic polymer paint on cardboard (support: 25.0 cm x 24.0 cm)

The first Australian celebrity chef, Peter Russell-Clarke (1935–2025) became a household name in the 1980s with his ABC TV cooking show Come and Get It. Appearing in over 900 episodes from 1983 to 1992, Russell-Clarke’s catchphrase ‘g’day’ and simple, health-conscious recipes became synonymous with the development of a uniquely Australian approach to cooking. Russell-Clarke began his career as an illustrator for advertising agencies and worked as a political cartoonist for the Melbourne Herald. He was later employed as a food consultant and wrote for magazines such as New Idea and Woman’s Day, as well as producing 35 cookbooks. Throughout his career Russell-Clarke prepared meals by invitation for prime ministers and premiers, and cooked a Silver Jubilee dinner for the then Prince Charles in 1977. Russell-Clarke was also an artist for most of his life, exhibiting around Australia and internationally. ‘The interesting thing about art to me, and painting, is you use the same thinking with painting,’ he said in 2024. ‘You’re mucking around with colour, form, texture, shape. And with cooking, you’re doing the same thing … cooking is not following a recipe book. Cooking is your imagination, and painting is your imagination.’

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
© Peter Russell-Clarke

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Peter Russell-Clarke (age 69 in 2004)

Subject professions

Food and cooking

Donated by

Peter Russell-Clarke (1 portrait)

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency