About Ian Coate

For a ‘long-winded version’ about Ian, scroll down further.

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About Ian Coate (The Long-winded Version)

Ian is a seventh-generation Aussie with deep roots in Australian history—right down to a convict in the family tree. His ancestors moved west from the east coast to settle and farm in the south-west of Western Australia, and that pioneering spirit has clearly stuck.

Service to Australia runs strongly through Ian’s family. Direct relatives have served in every major conflict since Federation, including the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Timor and Afghanistan.

After finishing high school, Ian headed off to study fine arts. Within six months, he shocked his family by announcing he was quitting art altogether to join the Army—and would be leaving in just a few weeks. In early July 1988, he found himself at Kapooka, knee-deep in basic training.

During downtime, Ian began sketching fellow recruits so they could post drawings home to loved ones (this was well before digital cameras and mobile phones). When his Section Commanders saw the quality of his work, they arranged an interview for him to become an Illustrator in the Royal Australian Survey Corps.So, having joined the Army to escape art, Ian promptly found himself employed as an Army Illustrator.
Fortunately, the military’s practical approach to illustration suited him perfectly, and he thrived. Ian was posted to key command units including the Command and Staff College, the Royal Military College, and the Chief of the General Staff’s Office in Canberra. It was also during his Army career that Ian met his wife, Sue—a Corporal in the Signals Corps—and started a family.

In 1994, Ian discharged from the Regular Army and moved to Perth with Sue and their young family. Juggling home-dad duties while trying to establish himself as a freelance illustrator, Ian also joined the Army Reserves and worked in recruiting roles.
The Black Hawk Tragedy in 1996 was a turning point. Ian lost a close mate, and when the opportunity arose to create a series of artworks commemorating the event and documenting key historical phases of the Australian SAS, he jumped at the chance. Other units soon recognised his ability to visually record military history, leading to further commissions for commemorative paintings and museum collections.

For more than a decade, Ian served as Artist-in-Residence with the Australian SAS's Historical Foundation. He has also been an ambassador for Army Art and a lecturing artist with the Military Art Programme, which offered free art classes to veterans and serving personnel across all services.
Ian’s original works are held in military museums around Australia, including the SAS Regiment, WA Military Museum, 4RAR Battalion, 2/14 Light Horse, the Royal Military College, RSL Headquarters and 13th Brigade. His prints hang in military units and messes throughout the world.
Co-signatories on Ian’s prints have included Australian of the Year General Peter Cosgrove, Surgeon General John Pearn, WWII pilot and double ace Bobby Gibbs, and Victoria Cross recipients Ted Kenna and Keith Payne—along with many generals, commandants and outstanding soldiers. Their generosity has helped raise well over $250,000 from print sales, all donated to various charities.

Ian has always had a deep love for Australia—its visual beauty, its history and heritage, and especially its oddities. Much of his childhood was spent in the outback, as his parents’ unusual occupations often saw Ian, his two sisters and brother camping in remote parts of Western Australia. Those experiences fostered a lifelong appreciation of Australia’s landscapes, flora and fauna.

When Ian and Sue started their own family, they continued the tradition, taking every opportunity to camp with their three kids and explore the many surprises this country has to offer.

It was around many campfires, the idea of Mythic Australia came into focus. Ian and Sue wanted to share their love of Australia and encourage other people to take a greater interest in their country, so they set about creating a fun fantasy universe filled with Drop Bears, Hoopsnakes, Nutters and Doodackies.

For over twenty years, Mythic Australia has been a true labour of love. The greatest reward has been seeing how these uniquely Aussie creatures and stories have engaged children—and adults—and inspired them to explore their own incredible country.

Ian and Sue warmly invite you to join them on their enchanted Aussie journey via the Mythic Australia website:  PRESS HERE

At just 17, Ian was already a cover artist and contributing illustrator for the local sci-fantasy magazine Australian Realms. He loved illustrating warriors, dragons and fantasy worlds, and was keen to learn more about the craft.
Unfortunately, back in the 1980’s the only higher education for art were courses in Fine Arts or Graphic Design—dedicated illustration courses didn’t exist. So Ian enrolled in Fine Arts, but the experience wasn’t the right fit—leading him, as noted earlier, to the Army.

After six years as a Regular Army illustrator-reprographic, Ian discharged in 1994 to become a home-dad while launching a freelance illustration career. The years that followed came with plenty of hard lessons. His work ranged from magazine and book covers to cartoon strips and tourism merchandise.
Alongside illustrating for others, Ian has always loved writing, authoring and co-authoring numerous children’s books and articles.

One of the great joys of Ian’s career has been collaborating with creative people on projects that benefit the wider community. He has worked with organisations such as Foodbank WA, H.E.L.P., Diabetes WA, Oral Care and Indigenous Health, producing illustrations that help communicate important messages to young audiences and communities with literacy or language barriers.    

Ian has also been privileged to collaborate with many talented Aboriginal artists. These partnerships—often combining Indigenous background art with Ian’s illustration—have resulted in culturally respectful, effective health messaging for Indigenous communities.

And more recently, Ian has become well known for his quirky range of Australian-themed garden statues: Dinkum Aussies and Aussie Gnomes, stocked by Bunnings, Woolworths and other major retailers.

Christianity has played an important role in Ian and Sue’s life. In the early 2000s, they worked with their church to create books and resources for missionary outreach in India and Africa.

Through this work, they became aware that many Christian ministries around the world operate with little to no budget, yet still need quality visual resources to share the Gospel. In response, Ian and Sue committed one day each week to creating Christian illustrations that anyone could download and use freely—no cost, no obligation—so all may hear the Gospel.

As the demand grew worldwide for these free Christian illustrations, Ian and Sue took the next step and created a dedicated website simply called: FREE CHRISTIAN ILLUSTRATIONS.

Ian and Sue hope you’ll take the time to visit and explore this website.  PRESS HERE

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