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.
Belinda Baccarini is a Photographer who loves the Illawarra coast. Winner of the 2023 Thirroul Seaside Festival Photographic prize I enjoy capturing the light on the escarpment and the ever changing moods of the waves and the sea as the light hits the water. I particularly love birds and capturing their colour & behaviour. I make my own cards & prints and also have magnets, coasters and acrylic tiles.  Belinda is showcasing her art along with some handmade ceramics made by others of flowers & gum nuts.  Visit Belinda's studio at 5 Mountain Rd, Austinmer.
www.belindabaccariniphotography.com       Instagram - belindabaccarini
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.
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-Gorrissen  is a multi-disciplined artist based in NSW. Her work explores themes of the interaction and dialogue between the 'self' and nature. Art is a complete language in its own right exploring the therapeutic dialogue that takes place between the artist and subject translated through the eyes of the viewer. She creates richly layered works to form emotional and though provoking responses from the viewer.  Pateena holds a BCA from UOW as well as Dip Ed Transpersonal art therapy, her work has been Selected and exhibited in galleries in NSW and Queensland. She has received several awards for painting and sculpting. In addition to her artistic practice, Pateena is also a teaching artist and Transpersonal art therapist. She currently lives and works from her studio at 7 Station Street, Stanwell Park  NSW
www.lillypillystudio.com      Facebook - createwithpateena      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
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     
Kendal Heyes came to Sydney from New Zealand in 1979 and studied at Sydney College of the Arts in the early 80’s. Since then he has held over 50 solo exhibitions of photography, painting drawing and printmaking. His work is in many public collections including in Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia, and in New Zealand, Victoria University, Otago University and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. 
After living in Sydney for more than thirty years Kendal moved to the Illawarra in 2010 and now lives in Coledale.  Having focussed on drawing for several years, Kendal has recently returned to printmaking. One of his recent linocuts was a finalist in the 2023 Fremantle Print Prize.  Kendal will be showing his prints in his studio at the Timbermill Studios in Bulli in November as part of the Art Trail. 
 Website: kendalheyes.com   Instagram: kendalheyes   Email: [email protected] 
 ​Christine Hill  Christine Hill's paintings and drawings mostly feature our coastline and waterways. She enjoys painting and sketching outdoors as well as in the studio - always inspired by the Illawarra coastal scenery, lifestyle and the forests of the escarpment.
Her 'Open Studio' will incorporate finished works for sale as well as the myriad sketches made in the 'inspiration' phase of making a painting - sometimes displayed together.
Christine is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Marine Artists & her studio is at 2 Roxburgh Avenue, Thirroul. 
​www.christine-hill.com   Facebook - Christine E Hill    Instagram - christineehill8
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:  
​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.   Sue works with watercolour, ink and pencil. Her subjects reflect her love of birds, animals, plants, historic landmarks and coastal living.  ​She has 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    ​Facebook - ​Sue & Jim’s Miniature World   Instagram - sueandjimsminiatureworld                
​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   
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. She works in Mixed Media, Actylics, Ink & Photography.  Her paintings are at the intersection of landscapes and abstraction, creating space and bold colours with geometric shapes that intersect.   She is inspired by the Australian landscape and her imagination,   
Irene's studio is at 54 Lawrence Hargrave Dr. Austinmer      Instagram - whiteart53 


​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.