Achievements

• In 1999, Ploeg"s painting of actress Deborah Mailman painted on wool bales was hung in the, and won the People"s Choice Award. In 2000, his painting of athlete Louise Sauvage was hung in the He won the Packing Room Award in 2004, with a portrait of Jana Wendt. He is also known for his controversial painting of the Bananas in Pyjamas television characters which was deemed ineligible by the trustees because it was not a painting of a person, although he had painted it from the characters in life. He has also entered paintings to the of singer Ben Lee, fashion identity Peter Morrissey, actor Richard Roxburgh and art collector and philanthropist John Schaeffer Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (in 2014). In 2007, he won the People"s Choice Award at the Archibald, with his painting of conductor and musical director George Ellis.