The Artists of the Northern Illawarra Art Trail   (NIAT)

Brief profiles of the artists are listed below, please look at their web or social media pages for more examples of their work and background information.
Paul Baker has worked as a Artist in the Thirroul Bulli area since 1993, and has had many exhibitions in Sydney and Wollongong.  Paul’s painting helps him to understand the natural of all things seen: from the natural beauty of the Australian Bush, the water, the rocks, to the architectural shapes and colours within the urban landscape. Winner of the 2003 and 2006 annual Thirroul Seaside Festival peoples choice prize, 1st in the Kiama Art Prize 2005, 2nd in 2007 Rural landscape section at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 2nd Prize Thirroul Seaside Arts Festival 2013. Also 1st Prize winner of the “ Postcodes From The Edge” 2014 Wollongong Art Gallery.
Ian Brown  is a contemporary abstract painter and printmaker. His works range from large, bold abstracted forms and landscapes to contemporary etchings. His works concentrate on colour  and mark making with many revealing abstracted landcapes of the local escarpment and coastline. Ian has exhibited in both solo shows as well as group exhibitions.  Ians studio is at  25 Cornock Ave, Thirroul 
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​Instagram - ianbrownthirroul   Facebook ianbrownthirroul  Contact - 0419735065
Phillip Davis  I have been a practicing Potter for more than 40yrs. My work has primarily focused on the craft of wheel thrown high fired stoneware. Over my career I have participated in many group and solo exhibitions that have led to my work being represented in both private and public collections, here and internationally.
My goal has always been to make pieces that are a joy to behold and hold!    My studio is at  4 Coledale Avenue, Coledale  

 email  [email protected]​     Contact - 0422221494  
Pateena Donnelly   I love working in a variety of mediums to create a visual language and interpretation of my experiences. Art is the language of the soul and creates a bridge between the inner psyche and conscious mind for both the artist and the viewer.
I am a painter, Sculptor and enjoy writing Haiku and Waku poetry. My subject matter is varied… landscape, seascape, portraiture, figurative, abstract
Mediums I use in my practice include but are not limited to oils, acrylic, watercolour, charcoal, graphite, fabric, Soapstone and driftwood 
www.lillypillystudio.com      Facebook - lillypillystudio   Instagram - lillypillystudio 
 ​Gail Etheredge  I am an intuitive modern artist that works both in acrylic, mixed media and oils to produce paintings. I have attended many workshops over the years exploring different techniques and media and different ways to express myself. I love colour texture and mark marking and have a loose expressive style. I now have my own studio and art gallery in my new home in Coalcliff. My beautiful surroundings feed my art and soul and are expressed in my works that are mainly landscapes or abstracts. I love travelling to many places and creating a series of works that are inspired by my time there. I sell my work from my studio and also at various local art shows and exhibitions I have been part of.  I believe there are no mistakes in the creative process just go with the flow and enjoy expressing yourself.  My studio is at Cliffhouse Art, 197 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.
Facebook - GailEtheredgeart    Instagram - gail.etheredge
Holly Eva I have been an artist now for the past 17 years. I have so many favourite inspirational artists that I am in touch with and who I follow, but there is one hero that sticks out for me and that is Ken Done. I love his colour and form. I’ve met him a few times and I find him to be so lovely, intelligent and above all honest. Even though each day I wake up and put on daggy clothes get covered in paint I know it’s a blessing to be a painter. I love it all and wouldn't change a thing. I was told in 2004 at the age of 16 that I should stick to sport because that is what I was good at, I always yearned for art and creativity and eventually after a career in dance in 1993 I was 28, I started to paint again and haven’t looked back. Now at 46 years of age I am full time. Art has my devotion and I am hooked, even when things just aren't working this is the challenge, this is art, this is the desire.
Holly works from her studio at the Timbermill 2-6 Molloy Street, Bulli.  Contact - 0414894538  
www.hollyeva.com   Instagram: - hollyeva_art     Facebook: -  shophollyeva
Barbara Gray   Inspiration comes from nature, gathering sketches on location. Exploring locally or on my travels.
Responding directly to the subject, light, colours, patterns and shapes, gives me pleasure and joy. Observing everyday life and capturing the moment, in paint on paper, canvas or board in a contemporary vibrant style. Experimenting and play is an important part of my creative process. I explore mark making with energetic responses, in oils, acrylics and watercolours. In recent times I am enjoying mixed media. I hold a Diploma in Fine Arts.  Have been a finalist in Flow National Watercolour, Ravenswood Australian Womens, Mosman & NSW Parliamentary Plein Air Art Prizes, 
​ My studio is at  -  704 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale - No wheelchair access  Click here for google maps
​ www.barbaragraystudio.com    Instagram - barbaragraystudio   Facebook -  Barbara Gray Studio     
Jennifer Jackson ​ The images that I make reflect the landscape  Places that I have visited, or the local area of the Illawarra are often seen in my mixed media images. Frequently I work on paper but also on canvas. I have a large collection of unframed and framed works.   The works can be tiny intimate images to large bold statements. Texture is a major element in my practice. I use collage, found objects and mixed media to create abstracted works.   All forms of history and archaeology interest me and was an art teacher for approximately 30 years.
Entering prizes, competitions and exhibitions is part of my practice resulting in 1st prize and medal of distinction for miniatures in the Sydney Royal and a finalist in the Paddington Art prize for landscape for example. 
I would love for you to visit and view some some of my many artworks in my studio at ​5 Southview Ave. Stanwell Tops.    www.jenniferjackson.com.au
Renee Kamaretsos is a local South Coast Artists and having lived in Europe for several years and travelled extensively, she acquires inspiration from her surroundings to create beautiful contemporary art. Renee has a great energy and enthusiasm for painting in a variety of different genres and mediums. The freedom of watercolour, the unlimited expanse in seascapes & landscapes, the curves of the human figure are all fundamental elements in the creation of her desirable Artworks. Renee captures the mood, harmony and rich palette of colours that nature provides. Renee's studio is located at The Timber Mill,  2-6 Molloy Street, Bulli.    Contact 0412061278
www.reneekamaretsos.com.au    Instagram -  reneekamaretsos_art    Facebook - Renee Kamaretsos Art
Edith McNally was born in the Netherlands in 1949, Edith arrived in Australia in 1952. She was married in 1971, has three adult children and enjoyed a professional career in public education for over 40 years 18 of which as the Principal of Menai High School. Her love of nature nurtured long-distance walking, gardening and bushwalking. Four years caravanning around Australia supported her transition out of her passion for public education and into a passion for watercolour travel sketching and later watercolour painting. Her paintings have become larger as she mastered new strategies for sealing watercolours without the limitations imposed by requiring heavy glass protection for finished works. She is currently exploring the world of abstract art as well as large scale landscapes. Her Stanwell Park Studio, beaches, cliffs and bush provides everything required for a lifetime of painting pleasure. Ediths studio is at 16 Seaview Crescent, Stanwell Park
www.edithmcnallyart.online/     Facebook - Edith McNally Art  Instagram - edithmcnallyart    Contact - 0477778289
Fred Marsh  Inspired by the diversity of mood and light, Fred explores the themes of light at the coast & in urban areas. He mainly paints in oils & acrylics in a contemporary impressionist style. Presently he is exploring the urban areas at night and the light of magic hour when the sparkle energizes the morning or evening water in a harbour or coast. Painting & sketching outdoors plays a big part in his practice. Fred was the 2022 winner of the Wollongong City's Art Prize "Postcards from the Edge ", & a past finalist in the NSW Parliamentary Plein Air prize & many other art prizes.  Fred's studio is at  704 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale. No wheelchair access
Click here for google map  ​ www.marshstudio.com    Instagram - marshstudio    Facebook - Fred Marsh Art    Click to contact:  
Jo Oliver is a writer and printmaker. She works in linocut, woodcut and etching. Four children’s picture books Jo wrote and illustrated have been published, Pilgrim, Tatiara, The Light and The Dreaming Tree. Each of her books are set on the South Coast NSW and uses printmaking, coloured in watercolour washes as illustration mediums. The books are all on the Premier’s Reading Challenge.  Jo has also written two biographies of Australian women artists and printmakers, Jessie Traill: a biography and Adelaide Perry: artist and teacher.
Jo’s studio will display the development of her artwork from drawing, to preparing a plate, to printing, to colouring. You will be able to talk with her about the illustration process and see her printmaking press. Jo’s books and some prints will be for sale at the open studio and Jo will sign books. Children are welcome.  Her studio is at 7 Allen Street, Austinmer 
https://storiesoflifecomau.wordpress.com      
​Sue Roach ​ After working as a community social worker for many years I am enjoying rekindling my love of painting and drawing in my retirement. I work primarily with watercolour and pencil and find that my favourite subjects are wildlife, pets and flora.
​I have studied watercolour and botanical art at Julian Ashton Art School and Hazelhurst Gallery.
​My studio is at ​7 Stonehaven Road Stanwell Tops
Instagram - sue.roachart                  
​Karen Roach    I am a printmaker, working with lino and Japanese wood block techniques, and I print on paper, canvas and material, and present my prints in mounting and framed prints, and also use the prints to create jewellery pieces, cards, coasters and bags. I also create marker on canvas pieces, and use marker to add colour to some of my prints. As well as using my prints and drawings to create handmade decoupage jewellery pieces, I also use resin and miniature model figures to create jewellery pieces. My work generally includes stylised visions of birds, water, and trees. My studio is at ​7 Stonehaven Road Stanwell Tops.
www. moreshelfspace.tumblr.com  Instagram -  moreshelfspace    
Sue and Jim’s Miniature World    Sue has had a love of things miniature since childhood and has over the last few years inspired Jim’s woodworking talents to create a 1:12 scale world of shops and houses. In their display workshop you can see a recreation of Pinocchio’s house, Anne Hathaway’s cottage and 1800s shops at Sydney’s Rocks as well homesteads and a pub. We like to decorate the houses for Christmas to display and raise money for charity.
After hearing about Sue and Jim’s Miniature World from visitors to the November Art Trail, Jim was approached by Clifton School of Arts to create a 1:24 scale model of the existing School of Arts building & the proposed extensions. When finished, the model will be used to assist fundraising for the venture which will provide wheelchair accessible facilities, a new multifunctional gallery space, decks, etc. Sue & Jims Miniature World is at 7 Stonehaven Road, Stanwell Tops   
​Facebook - ​Sue & Jim’s Miniature World   Instagram - sueandjimsminiatureworld                
​Sarah Rowan   For nearly two decades I have been speed painting LIVE and performing in front of thousands of people in the fast paced work of corporate entertainment. As my works are often sold whilst the canvas is still blank, it is a completely different experience to paint in my studio and home. My works are vibrant and often have a story. They are a mix of landscapes, abstracts, animals, and the ever fascinating universe. I make my art accessible and inspirational, whilst fun and intriguing. My Studio is at 2 Hay Street, Helensburgh.   Contact - ​0435209216
www.artistsarahrowan.com     Facebook - ArtistSarahRowan    Instagram - artistsarahrowan  Youtube - artistsarahrowan
Kieran Tapsell  One of the most important roles for art is to make us smile. For that reason, the artists I most admire are Antonio Gaudi, Salvador Dali, Gary Larson, Michael Leunig and Banksy. Most of my art decorates my house, at 19 Stanwell Avenue, Stanwell Park. I have replaced the downpipes with ceramic cockatoos, bilbies, ducks, echidnas, lizards and whales. Porcelain figures climb trees and bats hang from their branches.  Fountains and garden sprinklers make fun of classical sculptures. Giant spiders catch hang glider and paraglider pilots in their webs, while lobsters catch people in their traps in musings that the food chain hierarchy might have evolved differently. Stanwell Park community art has spread into the surrounding park with the MATE Exhibitions (Modern Art Tributes on Eggs) where you can see Picassos, Van Goghs, Banksys and Whiteleys painted on porcelain eggs in 211 giant nests made of lantana and other noxious weeds. The eggs have been painted by about 100 local artists, including many children. Solar lamps, candle holders and lobsters on cane pots provided by the Lobster Shack will be available for sale.         Contact: 0410 322 602                     Email: [email protected]
John Vander As an artist not born in Australia John feels he saw and still sees the Australian environment with fresh eyes.
John’s work hangs in private corporate and public collections throughout the world.  John paints seascapes, landscapes, polo games, street and beach scenes and often immortalises the pioneer spirit of Australia with street
scenes and country homesteads, which has won him wide acclaim​ . 
​Johns studio is at 111 Lawrence Hargrave Dr. Stanwell Park
www.johnvander.com.au     
Irene White Irene has been an artist for many years selling many pieces & undertaking commissions, mainly large abstract  paintings, using acrylic. She is inspired by the Australian landscape and her imagination, & is now able to devote herself full time to her art work. Irene feels fortunate to be living in an area amongst many incredibly amazing artists, & grateful to some who have provided her with guidance. She has successfully exhibited in the Thirroul and Scarborough art shows where her paintings have been acquired by collectors .
Irene's studio is at 54 Lawrence Hargrave Dr. Austinmer      Instagram - whiteart53 
Alison Winchester is a mixed media textile artist.   As a child Alison was in awe of the environment around her constantly picking up sand, soil rocks and leaves, exploring how she could interact with her surroundings. This tactile playful nature continued into adulthood and has informed her art process.  Alison has been involved with Canberra Glassworks to create & design beautiful delicate glass sculptures. She has a strong focus on the felting process and wearable arts.  Growing up with family who ran a farm in Yass , Alison was fascinated with thousands of sheep wandering on the farm. This curiosity gave birth to the desire of using her childhood memories and working with her brother's sheep farm at Braidwood to combine two different worlds to create art.   Wool from her brother's sheep farm is a highlight in many of Alison's artworks and displays ways in which she explores the natural environment around her. Alison works from her studio at the Timbermill 2-6 Molloy Street, Bulli.  ​Contact 0402620045    Instagram - alison.winchester


​This project was funded by a grant from Wollongong City Council 
We would like to acknowledge the Dharawal people, the traditional custodians of the land where the NIAT artists live and work.