Minister for Veterans David Harris has launched a powerful new art exhibition at the Anzac Memorial featuring works by 2025 Veteran Artist in Residence Hugh Semple that explore stories of post-service life through watercolour.
The exhibition, Beyond Service: Veterans' New Journeys, presents eight evocative watercolour paintings that illuminate the personal and transformative journeys of Australian military veterans as they navigate life after service.
Each artwork captures a veteran's chosen path, whether through art, music, storytelling, or cultural practice, revealing the renewed sense of purpose and identity these pursuits inspire.
Hugh Semple, a veteran of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport, first turned to painting as a therapeutic outlet following his medical discharge from the Army. What began as a means of healing has since evolved into a full-time artistic career. His deeply personal works reflect not only his own journey but also those of fellow veterans who have found strength and meaning in creative expression.
In June Hugh was named as one of two 2025 Anzac Memorial Veteran Artists in Residence and awarded a $10,000 grant to develop this significant body of work. Over recent months, the Anzac Memorial has served as both an inspiring backdrop and creative workspace for his artistic practice.
This year, the residency program was supported with funding from Veterans Benevolent Fund, supported by RSL & Clubs Services.
Launched in 2019, the Veteran Artist in Residence program supports current veterans in their development as artists and the use of the creative process in their healing journeys. The program also recognises the strong historic connection between art and military experience.
Beyond Service is on display at the Anzac Memorial which is open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm - entry is free. Visitors will also have a chance to meet Hugh and discover the stories behind the artworks during exclusive artist drop-in sessions.
More information is available here: https://www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/event/beyond-service-veterans-new-journeys
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
"Hugh has created an extraordinary and deeply moving collection that not only shares the personal journeys of our veterans beyond service, but also celebrates the passions that now define their lives. His work is a tribute to resilience, creativity, and the enduring spirit of those who have served.
"We're deeply grateful to Hugh for his generosity, and to the veterans whose stories he brings to life through each painting. Their willingness to share these personal journeys offers the broader community a rare and meaningful insight into life beyond service.
"The Anzac Memorial Veteran Artist in Residence program is a valuable opportunity to support veteran artists in their creative and healing journeys as they navigate life post service and honours their stories in a way that resonates deeply with the broader community."
2025 Veteran Artist in Residence Hugh Semple said:
"Life after service does not end the journey. It reshapes it. These artworks honour the courage it takes to rediscover purpose and build a new identity beyond the uniform.
"The residency has given me a unique space to process my past, explore my present, and imagine my future. Exhibiting at the Anzac Memorial has made my art, and my story, feel truly valued.
"Art has been a lifeline in my journey after leaving the Army. It has given me a way to process the experiences, challenges, and emotions that often feel impossible to express.
"Through creating, I have found a path to understanding myself, rebuilding my sense of purpose, and transforming the struggles of my past into something meaningful. Art has not only been a tool for healing, it has become a way to connect with others, to share my story, and embrace life beyond the uniform."
