Painter Edith McNally introduces Barbara Gray, one of the artists opening their studios this weekend for the inaugural Northern Illawarra Art Trail
Originally from southern Sydney, Barbara Gray became a regular day-tripper to the Northern Illawarra for sketching and painting. Day-tripping morphed into a permanent move in mid-2019. She had absolutely fallen in love with the area and, as she said, “immersed in such a spectacular landscape, with so much inspiration, feels like a perpetual holiday and an artist’s dream come true”.
As a child, Barbara never stopped drawing and painting. She studied fine art in her 20s and continued to learn by doing various master classes.
She was always pursuing new artistic goals by challenging herself with different mediums and effects. She prefers to paint from sketches gathered in her local environment, where she interprets in colour, texture and with emotion. Her subjects vary from landscape, figurative to still life.
When able to travel Barbara always carries a sketchbook and watercolours – so much fun to sit, observe and absorb a place. Most Thursdays are spent sketching outside with a small group. She became involved with Wollongong Art Gallery by entering the “Postcodes from the Edge” exhibition and “Flow Watercolour” art prize. She also delighted in participating in the “Group” exhibition last year at the gorgeous 55 Parrots store, Bulli.
Barbara captures what many local artists share when she says: “I feel so privileged to live in this environment and to be able to share its beauty on paper or canvas. I paint in oils, watercolours and mixed media. Art has always given me great joy and an amazing journey”.
Barbara has been selected as a finalist in many art prizes including the Mosman Art Prize, NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize and Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize.
Contact Barbara or view her work on Instagram (@barbaragraystudio) or visit www.barbaragraystudio.com
