About Darren

Darren Wells is a Sydney-based artist specialising in portraiture, working primarily in graphite and charcoal.

Raised in country Victoria, he built his art practice with digital paintings before turning to traditional mediums. His portraits combine elements of quirk and kitsch with an exploration of contrasts, embracing an art style of visible process and imperfection - a belief that every mark, like every face, tells a story. 

Darren has a Bachelor of Arts and also has a background in writing and communication, with years of experience working across magazines, content agencies and event curation.

In 2025 Darren appeared in ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year where he was shortlisted among the top three of his heat.