Jason McDonald

Photographer & Photo Media Artist

Jason McDonald is an award-winning photographer and photo media artist living and working near Mudgee, NSW. After a successful career as a graphic designer in Sydney, Jason returned to the family farm where he grew up, reconnecting with the land and the natural world that has since become the focus of his creative work.

Immersed in the rhythms of rural life, Jason began photographing the unique wildlife, flora, and landscapes around him. His work blends fine art photography with a documentary sensibility, transforming intimate moments of the natural world into compelling visual stories.

Through photography, Jason presents a heartwarming portrait collection of his orphaned animal companions — Loppy the kangaroo, Squeaker the magpie, Holly the honeyeater, and Little Pipit. All rescued on the farm, these animals quickly became part of Jason’s everyday life, providing both inspiration and irresistible photographic talent.

Set against the nostalgic backdrop of the lovingly restored Shearer’s Cottage — which Jason now calls home — this series captures the animals in playful, stylised monochromatic compositions. Contrasted with vintage objects, fresh-cut flowers from Jason’s garden, and colourful interior details, the photographs invite viewers to explore themes of childhood memory, nostalgia, colour, and play.

Since his first exhibition in Mudgee in 2018, Jason has been featured in numerous national group exhibitions. In 2023, he won the Milburn Art Prize at the Brisbane Institute of Art and was a finalist in the Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize at Manly Art Gallery & Museum.

Jason McDonald’s work is a poetic reflection of life on the land — rich in character, texture, and a deep appreciation for the beauty in everyday moments.

Jason McDonald - Diorama Melodrama and Portraits of Maggie, August 2024.

Untitled Group Exhibition March 2023.

Q & A with Jason McDonald 2021.

Exhibition Catalogue The Roo, the Magpie and Friends, October 2021.

Finalist Mini Series Art Prize 2019, Exhibition Catalogue.