IF THE measure of success involves winning the Arts and Cultural Achievement Award on Australia Day and the prospect of your TV show reaching more than 80 million viewers in Europe, then Murwillumbah's Graeme Stevenson is a runaway winner.

But that's not what the man is all about.

The success of his self-produced TV series Colour in Your Life is a welcome testament to a lifetime of commitment to art and to allowing everyone to access its secrets.

Many artists begrudge revealing their techniques and tricks.

Graeme believes these should be recorded for posterity and shared as they touch people's lives.

Indeed, colour people's lives.

"I'm a great believer in connecting with the right side of your brain," he said.

"We live in a left-brain world and it can be a harsh one at times."

He once met a woman who had seriously contemplated suicide.

She had lost her husband and nothing sparked her interest.

"She told me she had watched Colour in Your Life and had been inspired to paint," he said.

"Through painting she made friends.

"Her life was rejuvenated, even saved, through art.

"That makes you feel pretty good and shows the incredible power of art."

Graeme received recognition in this year's Australia Day awards for his contribution to art in the Tweed.

The former Tweed River High School student's art career spans over 30 years, having held his first exhibition in 1984.

His work hangs in galleries and many private collections throughout the world and has been featured in prominent art magazines in the US.

Graeme was invited to paint The Atlas of Parrots, published in six languages and distributed to 120 countries.

He was invited by George Adamson to paint the lions he befriended, along with many other animal subjects throughout India and South Africa.

Graeme appeared on the US television art program Colour in Your Life and was inspired to produce his own television series featuring artists from the Tweed.

His interviews with artists in their studios discussing their artworks is now being distributed to China, parts of Europe and the US.

"I like to think the show acts as a medium for people to tell the world what they do," he said

It hasn't all been plain sailing, however.

It's been three years of hard work getting his show aired and having to pave the way and suffer rejection many times.

"You have to persist and believe in your idea.

"Determination is everything.

"JK Rowling had Harry Potter rejected 101 times and look at where it is now."

Graeme says building a library of the minds of artists isn't easy, but it's incredibly satisfying.

"Each time I do another show, I learn something new.

"I'm amazed by each and every artist as I share their techniques.

"I feel like a kid learning.

"I find myself saying, 'Wow, I didn't know you could do that'."