The Percivals 2026

About the Artwork

I grew up on the side of Castle Hill in Townsville. I also spent many hours sailing with my dad Don McGrath on Cleveland Bay and followed in his footsteps by starting my career working in television on the Strand. I encouraged him to enter The Percivals (which he has). When visiting him recently, he showed me his progress and explained the narrative of his artwork. I had the thought: I’m going to paint him painting himself and enter The Percivals as well—how marvelous would it be if both father and daughter were in the finals together? I enjoyed dad telling me stories about his life as he captured his memories on canvas and I captured them in my heart. Dad is an old sea dog and was part of the inaugural Cruising Yacht Club formed in Townsville in 1966.

About the Artist

Donna Gibb has always drawn and painted. As well as doing art at Townsville Grammar School, she was fortunate to have lessons from local art legend, the late Denis Hardy, and has been a professional artist for 25 years. With her work held in collections around the world, she has been a finalist in The Glover Prize, the Brisbane Portrait Prize, John Villiers Outback Prize, National Equine art prize, the Clayton Utz Art Prize, the Gallipoli Art Prize, the Brisbane Rotary Art Prize, and various other awards. She has been awarded the People’s Choice in the ANL National Maritime Prize and the RQAS Members Art Prize.

In May 2026, Donna is representing Australia by exhibiting at the Clio Art Fair in Manhattan during New York Art Week.