I didn’t anticipate that I would have the time or the body
of work for an exhibition in the first year of living in the Clare Valley.
There was so much to be done, not the least of which was actually setting up my
studio. However, that notion would soon change after a chance meeting with
Chrissy Van Der Jeugd from Claymore Wines. During a casual conversation while
enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon of wine tasting, it was suggested that it
might be possible to hold an exhibition at the winery during SALA (South
Australian Living Artists) month, is an event that encourages over a
thousand local artists throughout the state to exhibit their works in August
each year. While feeling somewhat ill prepared at the time, the opportunity was
simply too good to resist. Knowing that there were a few months of production
time ahead and with Chrissy’s encouragement, the challenge was now on! Using the
mid-north region of South Australia as my inspiration, I would aim to produce
around 25 paintings that would reflect upon the relationship between the mid-north
environment and those who watch over it. This would also allow me to personally
connect with our new home through both its landscape and man-made artifacts
from both the past and present that can often be seen throughout the region.
