Maitland Gaol Plays Host to New Artist in Residence Rachel Milne

Maitland City Council and Maitland Gaol are excited to welcome well respected artist Rachel Milne, as she embarks on a period of artistic residency at the historic gaol. Milne is a professional fine art painter, specialising in figurative and observational oil painting, in the style of the impressionists. Originally from the United Kingdom, Rachel now lives and works in Newcastle and is currently represented by the King Street Gallery on William, Sydney and the Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne.

Mike Baudinette, Destination Manager at Maitland Gaol, says they ‘could not have been happier when Rachel reached out to see if she could create works of art at the gaol. The space is full of amazing and quirky features, and it takes a special talent to represent them as Rachel does’.

‘Our visitors on tours of the Gaol are both surprised and delighted to see Rachel painting in a cell block. It is a special thrill to briefly watch an artist at work’, says Mr Baudinette.

'I want to shine a light on buildings that play an important role in our society and are rarely seen, under a process of change or just underrepresented in figurative painting,’ Ms Milne says.

‘Maitland Gaol has such a long history that I am hoping to do justice to, and it feels like a real privilege to have the chance to create a series of work with this residency.’

You can follow along with Rachel Milne’s progress of works at the Gaol by following her at www.facebook.com/rachelmilneartist