Experience the artistic process of Hugh Semple, one of the Anzac Memorial’s 2025 Veteran Artists in Residence, as he creates a powerful series of watercolour works of veterans new purpose after service.

A former full-time member of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport, Hugh now calls Wagga Wagga home. After a medical discharge from the Army, Hugh turned to painting as a form of healing—what started out as a therapeutic outlet soon became a full-time creative career. 

During his residency, Hugh will create artworks that invite us to see veterans not only through the lens of sacrifice or strength, but also as evolving individuals—creative, complex, and deeply human. His work offers a fresh perspective on life after service.

View some of Hugh’s previous works in the gallery below.

Hugh is located near the Liverpool Street Entrance on the Lower Ground level from 9am to 5pm on the following days:

• Tuesday 1 July to Thursday 3 July
• Tuesday 5 August to Thursday 7 August
• Tuesday 19 August to Thursday 21 August
• Tuesday 2 September to Thursday 4 September
• Tuesday 16 September to Thursday 18 September

About the Veteran Artist in Residence Program

The Anzac Memorial Veteran Artist in Residence program offers contemporary veterans with established creative practices the opportunity to engage with the Memorial and the broader community through an artwork or project.

The guest veteran artist (or group) will have a unique chance to explore the Memorial's architecture, history and artefacts as part of a creative project that reflects on and interprets Australian military experience, the Anzac Memorial and/or memorialisation.

The 2025 Veteran Artist in Residence Program is supported by the Veterans Benevolent Fund.

If you are a veteran artist who is interested in applying for the next Veteran Artist in Residence round, register your interest to receive a notification email when applications open.