THE ARTISTS
Supporting, encouraging & promoting our community of visual artists
CABBI as it is known, is now in its 37th year of operation. Its members are dedicated to producing work which can be viewed at regular exhibitions throughout the year culminating in an annual exhibition. These exhibitions showcase paintings, sculpture and craft which are judged by well-known artists. There is a large, eclectic display by members and the exhibition is a draw card for both Batemans Bay residents and the many tourists who visit the area.
I have drawn and painted since childhood and I am a traditional artist. I studied at the Australian National University doing courses which covered life drawing, etching, lino cut and oil painting.
Margaret Allen
In 2001 I discovered the beauty of pastels and since then most of my work features the pastel medium. My works are predominantly about the Australian landscape, but I also love to do still life and portraits. Working with many art mediums allows me to cover a variety of styles from traditional to abstract.
Lin Barnes
My interests are varied and many and I am mostly outdoors enjoying all that these experiences can provide. Canoeing, bush walking, camping, gardening and playing tennis enhance and provide inspiration for my art. This is reflected in my nature-related subject matter, which is often abstracted and stylized. I enjoy watercolour and mixed media, along with Intaglio print making. I am also immersing myself in the process of letting sculpture emerge from a solid block. Art making is such great fun, there is never a dull moment. Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc (CABBI) has provided me with great forum to make friends, be involved, practice and learn. I have no formal training, but have always been keenly interested in art, in all its many forms.itional to abstract.
Initially painting in oils in high school university years, but only as a hobby, and kept drawing and sketching on the back-burner for many years.
Maggie Brennan
After moving to Batemans Bay in 2000, I discovered pastels and started lessons with Grace Paleg. The gorgeous colours of pastels and their versatility is so appealing, and I painted with pastels for years after, amassing a huge collection of colours on the way. Wanting the immediacy of pastels in paint, I discovered that acrylics could do the job of oils, dry quicker than oils, and had so many ways of application, that with the help of Laurie Phillips, I swapped to using acrylics. My process is to make a coloured ground and then work my way in to the painting. I tend to paint a semi abstract subject, never sure what the outcome will be when I start.
A Whales Tail Twenty plus years of working in the recycled clothing industry and a passion for recycled denim especially has led me to designing and making my whales.
Anne Bruce
Also living in the beautiful South Coast area where we see whales come and go each year has been an inspiration. I love whales and all the mythology that surrounds them.
Working with wood and the need to decorate it, has lead to this art. The burning is done by applying a HIGH voltage of 2500 volts to the surface of the timber. I have a healthy respect for electricity, as I worked on construction and maintenance of high voltage power lines up to 66000 volts for 38 years. Ian Camp
It’s a procedure to produce free form designs on the timber surface. No two items will ever be the same. The patterns are from the sea (seaweed), from the earth (tree roots), or from the sky (lightning).
I love colour and like to inject an element of fun into my paintings. At present I tend to stick to acrylic, although I have enjoyed workshops in oils, watercolour, and mixed medias, and I still get excited about learning new techniques.
Carleta Delac
I have concentrated on portraits and usually accept about 6 commissions annually. I paint portraits from photographs and I use credit cards, or part there of to do the portraits. In between portraits I add to what I call my credit card collection. These are original prints and paintings on paper.
I would say that I am a semi abstract contemporary artist who experiments with all mediums, the latest being resin. It produces such wonderful unpredictable results and I’m drawn to lots of colour and texture – it simply colours my world!
Portia Dunn
Art is a passion of mine and it takes me on my amazing journey when I experiment with all different art concepts. I have entered many exhibitions over the years and won numerous awards. My works are now in private collections all over Australia and it makes me feel very humbled and blessed to have art in my life.
My love of art started in retirement and I have attended many workshops in my area and had private tuition through a local artist, Beth Monahan (dec) for a couple of years. I have entered my art in Exhibitions both locally and further afield in NSW. I have received several Awards for my work during these exhibitions. Christine Edwards
The inspiration for my diversity in painting comes from the love of nature, earthy Australian outback colours, blues & greens from our coastlines. These landscapes help me create works of art in various mediums watercolours, acrylics and mixed media. I join a weekly group painting outdoors (en plain air) on the south coast of NSW and love the diversity of our natural landscapes.
With a background in computer graphics and marketing, Pam has been painting full time for approximately 18 years. Predominately a mixed media painter, she was a finalist in the 2014 Basil Sellers Art Prize on the South Coast.
Pam Edwards
Her work is often described as abstract realism – she enjoys the challenge of employing abstract ideas to capture the essence of the subject, while at the same time, allowing the viewer to see elements of realism. She uses inks, acrylics, collage pieces, texture and pen and ink when she paints and experiments with different techniques in order to achieve the desired effect.
Life gave Lynne the opportunity to move to Mogo 30 years ago and when she became unable to work at the age of 50 she started to draw again, something she hadn’t done since her teenage years.
Lynne Freeman
Lynne is grateful to the many artists who have helped her in developing skills, techniques and ideas to form her own artistic impression. She generally uses pen, ink and pencil but also likes to use watercolour and acrylics. She enjoys doing pictures of our Australian wildlife and plants and has won awards. She insists the greatest pleasure is when her art is chosen to be hung in someone’s home.
I’m a self taught textile artist, passionate about what I do. My love of the Australian bush sparked my interest in botanical printing.
Noelene Gibbs
Eucalyptus foliage is what I mostly work with. However all eucalypts are not created equal knowing what results I’ll get has taken considerable time to learn ,the smell, colour and the shape of the leaves are my focus when collecting foliage. Hot dry, or wet conditions can yield different results as the tannin, and other wonderful content in the leaves varies with these conditions.
My artwork practice started once I left Melbourne and moved to Sydney in the mid 1980’s, after gaining formal art education in Sydney I operated an art studio in Menzies Arcade near Pitt Street, Sydney.
Irene Harmsworth
In the early to mid-2000 my art practice was Graphic design and illustration for Mining and later Defence departments. I painted for exhibitions and competitions during the mid-2000 and moved to Victoria and participated in various group exhibitions at Ballarat Regional Art Gallery, Avoca Information Centre, and Chapel St Gallery South Yarra for “Art Town”. Portrait painting and drawings have been my goal over the years and commission for Morning Peninsula Art Group, Mt Best Community Centre South Gippsland where sold – paintings and illustrations
Nick Hopkins
Nick Hopkins is a South Coast wood turner and sculptor specialising in one-off artistic pieces. His raw materials are largely timbers he has scavenged himself from 2nd hand timber yards, or from trees felled on his former permaculture property on the NSW far North Coast during weed removal eg Camphor laurel. His favourite timbers are Australian Red Cedar, Mango and Oregon. After receiving his Graduate Diploma of Landscape Architecture he ran a successful landscape design business in Canberra before relocating to Eurobodalla Shire in 2013. He now produces quality artwork worthy of either indoor or outdoor display
David John
I began wood turning in 1990 while living in the Lower Blue Mountains. As a member of The Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre (at Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains) I attended a series of workshops conducted by a local wood turner. The BMCAC operated a gallery and as a member I was part of this along with regular participation in their Annual member’s Exhibitions. In 1997 I was one third of two exhibitions at The BMCAC Gallery, entitled Three Cuts of Wood and Three Cuts of Wood, The Second Edition’. The other two thirds were a wood carver and a joiner. Deciding that turned bowls sometimes needed embellishment, I enrolled in a loosely structured woodcarving class which morphed into a casual carving group. There followed another exhibition, this time in Leura in the Blue Mountains, Artists in Wood, a collaboration between four woodworkers, two carvers and two turner/carvers.
Trevor Hyde
Trevor Hyde’s life and his eye for landscapes, buildings and life by the sea, have been marked by the artist’s distinctive brushstrokes and a gift for observing the unusual. Hyde first began his art career in New Zealand as a sign writer, quickly moving into graphic design and advertising. But it was a life changing move in the early 1970’s to found the graphic design studio ‘Silver Bullet’ in Sydney that cemented his place as an artist and designer on the Australian side of the Tasman. Hyde produced some of the most notable Australian film posters of the time; his branding work also is at play today in some of Australia’s most iconic logos including BONDS, Oz Lotto, Man and His Van, and the National Film And Sound Archive – amongst others. His career as a painter took off as the studio closed. Decades on, Hyde has settled into a seaside suburb of the Eurobodalla , not unlike the one he grew up in. He paints from his home studio and from a carefully packed suitcase of paints when he travels interstate or overseas. Trevor has exhibited widely in Sydney and New Zealand. (Ian Campbell, About Regional).
Janet Kininmonth
Working from her home studio and workshop in Batemans Bay, Janet creates her glass pieces in a kiln heated up to almost 800 C. At a slightly cooler temperature, gravity will start to slump melting glass, over or into a mould; while at the higher temperature glass can fuse together to create brilliant, multi coloured pieces. She says, “I love working with the rich, fluid nature of glass, capturing its ‘free flowingness’, and at a moment in time”. Basically a practical person Janet creates work emphasising functionality and geometric type designs. This is apparent in the cool, clean forms and purity of colour of the small bowls, larger platters, clock faces, jewellery and accessories which make up most of her collection. But sometimes the imaginative side of her creative process takes over.
An expressive abstract artist inspired by her travels abroad and the changing moods and vivid colours of nature and her own feelings. Julie’s unique style has emerged during her artistic journey over many years and explores a variety of mediums including: alcohol ink, acrylic, mixed media, pouring mediums and watercolour and her love of all things fluid. Julie Lark
Julie combines her love of fluid art in designing jewellery and a personal gift line. Julie has participated in numerous exhibitions, won awards in art competitions and has works in public and private collections. Julie also donates artworks for auction to multiple causes.
A painter of light filled land and seascapes, Judy doesn’t use a brush to create her pictures, instead she deftly wields her palette knife to blend undiluted oil paint while retaining the richness of colour and feel of the medium. She has a unique style of smoothing the paint so it is sometimes hard to distinguish it from the use of a brush. Judy Lawler
She says, “moving the paint around the canvas with a palette knife is such a joy”. Visitors to The Gallery can see the joy in one of her featured paintings, ͚Beach Fun at Berrara (Sussex Inlet)͛—it glows with light and colour as she captures a happy beach scene of families enjoying a day at a favourite old haunt of Judy and her family.
Denise’s inspiration and passion come from a love of nature and desire to recreate its beauty. She paints in a variety of media with her paintings depicting a strong sense of vibrant colour; she taught art and craft in schools for 21 years.
Denise Luke
You can view Denise’s commissioned works on a gazebo at Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens. Her prize winning works have been featured in Australian Artist magazine, presented in galleries throughout the state and placed in private collections around the World.
Most of Marie’s work is in Mixed Media, Pastel and Photography. She has a special interest in old photographic processes as an art form. Her work can be viewed at Nava Gallery, PhotoAccess Gallery, Hive Gallery, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre and The Art Vault Gallery websites.
Marie Lund
Marie currently lives between the pristine bushland of The Murramarang National park and The South Sea. The close proximity to the beauty and occasional harshness of nature inspires her imagination and uplifts her spirits. “From my childhood, Nature became my best friend. It offers me not only desired freedom, but also everlasting inspiration and retreat. The wonderful world around me full of little sensations always removes me from ordinary.”
It is an enormous privilege to live out your passion. I appreciate that I get to indulge in mine on a daily basis. I believe if you have a creative soul, you need to get it out there!
Sheryl Miller
The challenge of painting is what I enjoy. Using a wide variety of subjects, inspiration which comes from my local seaside surroundings and travels. Making things and creating practical craft, that’s my passion. Mosaic garden pavers and other garden jewels are another interest. I endeavor to live my values and share ideas with people who connect with me and my art and craft. Sheryl is a Life Member of Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc. and a founding Member of The Gallery (previously Wattlebark Gallery 1998).
Paint has always run in my veins and when I spent time as a mature age student at the School of Art in Canberra a new world opened up for me. I was exposed to many possibilities, different art forms and taught how to look and feel about art.
Laureen Phillips
I don’t have a particular “style” and continue to evolve as a painter, always learning and open to new ideas. I have exhibited in Canberra, Bermagui, Braidwood and Batemans Bay. My preferred mediums are watercolour and acrylic.
My keen interest in art has always been present from an early age however it was not until my latter years that I was able to pursue my passion for art. Having travelled extensively within Australia and to numerous parts of the world during my late teens until my early thirties, my passion for intense colour, diversity, exploration and subject matters was fuelled. Nina Poulton
I commenced initially as an oil painter but slowly progressed to incorporate the multiple mediums available. I consider myself basically self- taught but by attending numerous workshops over the years this allowed me glimpses into the endless possibilities of expression and taught me to develop using multiple mediums. I like to work with oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolour, water media, mixed media, inks, pen & pencils and even some sculpture. My art works are inspired by images, everyday scenes, and largely by my imagination which then leads to the choice of medium and mood.
I’ve worked many years teaching art in schools throughout Australia and overseas. The possibilities and love of print medium also led me to work with silk screen printing and the production of many unique and individual designs.
Mel Reidy
Many years in the Northern Territory provided great insight and inspiration. A stall at Darwin’s famous Mindil Beach Markets featured original hand screen printed tshirts based on my love of nature and animals. I have now returned to my first love – oil painting. My paintings feature sky image interpretations and the magic of light. I ‘see’ the pattern a sky creates as unique and individual with each and every dawn and with each and every dusk.
Works of art may elicit a sense of wonder or cynicism, hope or despair, adoration or spite; the work of art may be direct or complex, subtle or explicit, intelligible or obscure; and the subjects and approaches to the creation of art are bounded only by the imagination of the artist. Suzanne Shelley
It is the associations linked to matter that become the catalyst for ideas and ultimately the finished work. The desire to find primary, elemental meaning through the physical, also ties many of the works to a sense of place.
A vibrant and ever changing collection of wearable studio art glass created by award winning glass artist Barbara Stewart in her South Coast Studio N.S.W. Australia.
Barbara Stewart
Barbara retired to Batemans Bay from Grafton to be closer to family and to be near the water but while on a trip to New Zealand Barbara’s work moved in another direction when she discovered dichroic glass jewelry. She was so amazed at the beauty of the colours and how they changed that she had to be a part of that scene. Barbara has mastered the art of dichroic glasswork as is evident in her beautiful range of iridescent jewelry on show at The Gallery.
Bernie Varkevisser
After retiring from teaching, I moved to Guerilla Bay where my husband and I had built a holiday house I the late 1960’s. I open the “Calico Cat” shop in Mogo where for 12 years, I supplied materials for creative textiles and taught my craft. After closing the business, I continued to teach embroidery and design which continues to occupy my time. My current work encompasses freeform embroidery utilising silk ribbons, beading, laces and cords. My signature pieces are handbags, creative glasses cases and necklaces with a glamorous twist.
Audrey Warren
One of Audrey’s earliest memories is of sitting under gum trees, at a very early age, sketching her surrounds. She comments that “I never stop thinking about painting.” Audrey prefers to allow the painting to evolve and to let it tell its own story, rather than painting with a preconceived plan. She invests her imagination more in the use and application of her chosen media. While Audrey has lately turned to watercolour, many of her works in The Gallery are representative of both these mediums. Of painting in oils, Audrey says “I love the smell of turpentine and the freedom it allows to experiment with ideas. It allows both change and invention while still working on the painting.” Audrey also a member of the ‘All Weather Artists’, where she prefers to paint outdoors in watercolour. Of this she says that she likes the magic of watercolour, both its transparency and the impressionistic qualities that are possible.
Canberra and South Coast of NSW, Tuross Head based professional photographer Bindy Welsh’s photographic career spans over two decades. Bindy’s photographic expertise includes commercial photography, such as food photography, product, event photography, tourism, wedding photography and cookbooks. Bindy has designed, created and published The North East Cookbook series and The Canberra Regional Cookbook. Bindy Welsh
Bindy is a Licentiate accredited member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. Bindy has a BA in Visual Arts, from Sydney College of The Arts, an Associate Diploma of Arts in Photography from Canberra Institute of Technology and a Grad Diploma in Secondary Teaching in Art from Charles Sturt University. Bindy is a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program.
Lyn Woolridge is a visual artist currently working in Pastel, Acrylic and Mixed Media. She has always participated in art and studied art as a major subject in her teaching degree. She says “my paintings are an expression of my interpretation of fleeting moments of the play of light in the natural world”
Lyn Woolridge
Living near the ocean has had a profound influence on her work. Every day the colours of the water and the sky, the sound of the wind or crashing waves and the smells around her change and influence her paintings. Her favourite medium is Pastel frequently applied over a variety of underpainting techniques which can result in some wonderful painterly effects. She also paints in acrylics which she finds brings more texture to some of her works.