Ben arrived at his current metier, having trained as a jeweller, followed by a successful musical career, firstly as a classical cellist followed by extensive touring as a rock guitarist with WAM hall of fame inductees 'The Scientists'. Commercial set painting and design led inexorably back to a career in fine art. A strong sense of design that synergises organic, free-form lines, scrolls, spirals and myriad textures characterise Ben’s style, as can be seen in the paintings, entrance statements, portraiture, sculptures, fantastical wrought iron gates, chandeliers, weathervanes, daybeds and elaborate water-features being just a few of his commissions.

 

Flamboyant Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), whose work was organic, eclectic and revolutionary for its time,  is among many influences cited by Ben including Picasso, Calder, Miro, Klee, Whiteley and Albert Paley. Another significant influence was Ben’s father, Western Australian inaugural state ‘Living Treasure’, the late Robert Juniper AM who taught him how to use an oxy torch at the age of twelve.

 

Juniper has been quoted as saying “I didn’t feel the need to go to an art school, I grew up in one!”. Combining past disciplines, he enjoys applying jeweller's techniques to his large-scale projects. for instance, using a combination of metals to provide great contrast in reflective light and texture, using copper to ‘set’ glass as a jeweller might set a stone or his use of impasto media and metals in his two-dimensional work. Having exhibited in London, UK, Manhattan NYC and points between, he is now represented in collections worldwide.