Tasmanian artist George Davis dies, aged 94. His work inspired the ABC logo

Artworks by Tasmanian George Davis, the father of actor Essie Davis, are much-prized in permanent collections at various Australian public galleries and museums.

Acclaimed Tasmanian artist and conservationist George Davis – the father of actor Essie Davis – has died at the age of 94.

Davis was recognised as one of the Australian arts scene’s most prolific painters and draughtsman of Tasmanian birdlife, plants and landscapes.

Actor Essie Davis and her father George Davis in front of his iconic mural on the former Hobart Conservatorium of Music building.

One of his most renowned pieces is a large tile mosaic mural at the former ABC and Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music building on Sandy Bay Rd, Hobart. The giant mosaic is made up of 150,000 glass tiles and inspired the ABC sound wave logo.

Davis was commissioned for the work in 1961 after he won a design competition to produce a 19m-long mural for what was then the new ABC television studios in Hobart.

Davis used coloured tiles to create a harmonious, stylised figure composition contained within a sound wave.

The mosaic mural created by George Davis in 1961 on the then ABC building on Sandy Bay Road.

Davis’s paintings and drawings are in permanent collections at various Australian public galleries and museums, universities and Parliament House, most notably in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart.

In 1984, he painted the portraits of ten composers in the restored dome of the Theatre Royal, Hobart.

Tasmanian artist George Davis at the launch of his exhibition George Davis: Master Draughtsman. He is pictured with daughter, Australian actor Essie Davis.

Originally published as Tasmanian artist George Davis dies, aged 94. His work inspired the ABC logo