Yve Close 

Yve Close studied at The Julian Ashton Art School whilst still a teenager, under the guidance of Henry C. Gibbons. Twelve months at East Sydney Technical College followed. In 1968, Yve began studies at the Royal Art Society of NSW with Allan Hansen, Frederick Bates, Garret Kingsley and Arthur Murch.

In 1975 she entered Joshua Smith's Lane Cove School as a student. Within one year he elevated her to the position of teacher and invited her to joinhim in painting murals for a Balmain church. Following this undertaking he asked her to become his full time associate which led to their twenty year painting partnership.

In addition to weekly teaching at the Lane Cove School they travelled to country centres conducting seven day workshops, including Bathurst (Mitchell School of Creative Arts at Charles Sturt University), Canberra
(Canberra Art Workshop), Newcastle (The von Bertouch Galleries),Bowral (Oxley College), Mittagong, Kiama, Mudgee and Goulburn.

After Joshua Smith died in 1995, Yve spent three years writing a book on his life and work, "Joshua Smith, Artist”.  Her commissioned portraits include chancellors, vice-chancellors, army generals, academics, religious leaders, artists, professional and business people as well as men, women and children from many walks of life.