WHY WE ARE UNIQUE

While there are several art trails that take place all over the country during the year, our setting in rural Sydney is unique and our dedicated committee members who are passionate about the arts have worked tirelessly over the years to create an exhibition and trail which is one of the most highly regarded and well attended in Sydney. The careful selection of the highest quality and eclectic range of art presented is a testament to the event’s survival and longevity. Research reflects that visitors flock from all over Sydney as well as from areas of the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Hunter regions.

“I am so pleased to be part of this fantastic well established art event. It is a great showcase of rural Sydney and its local artists.” Jill Davis, jeweller

“I so value my selection to exhibit over the weekend of the Arcadian Artists Exhibition and Trail with so many talented artists competing for a place. After 27 years of growth and improvements, the trail is now one of Sydney’s most prestigious rural events.” Rae Woolnough, textile artist

“The Arcadian Artists Exhibition and Trail is a wonderful way for the public to engage directly with the artist and talk with them about their inspiration and their work. And then at the end of a great day out in the country it is special to be able to take home something unique and hand crafted.” Helen Symons, Northwood, Sydney

“The Arcadian Artists art trail is a must see event and not to be missed. I put it in my calendar every year. It is one of the highlights of the year.” Carol Rydon, Turramurra, Sydney

“It is so much more meaningful to be able to talk to the artist who has created the artwork you are buying and to find out about the creative process it involved. It brings the artwork to life and contributes to its meaning and significance when displayed in one’s home.” Tracey Grieve, Mulgoa, NSW

“Because so many of the artists are local to the area, much of their work reflect the flora and fauna of the area with colours that echo the soft sandstone hues and eucalypts. These pieces are quintessentially Australian.” Pauline Brewer, Southern Highlands, NSW

“We are aware that our trail and exhibition has become an event which is so highly regarded by Sydney’s creative fraternity that we are fortunate to have the pick of some of Sydney’s best talent. With such a diverse range of enthusiastic and talented artists using a wide variety of mediums, styles, materials and subjects, our event is as stimulating as it is unique.” Merilyn Chappel, painter

Our Artists (by skills)

Ceramic Artist

Katherine Mahoney

Katherine Mahoney Katherine Mahoney’s ceramics are represented in many museums throughout Asia and in private and corporate collections worldwide. Read more

Nicole Miranda

Nicole Miranda of Originally Nic is a Sydney Graphic and Visual Artist plus Ceramicist inspired predominantly by nature. Read more

Sandra & Maria Vumbaca

Sandra & Maria Vumbaca Maria & Sandra specialise in the production of quality hand-painted functional & decorative porcelain & earthenware pieces. Read more

Katarina Wells

My aim is to express a sense of balance and harmony through my work. I hand build my pieces over a period of a few days, to allow the clay to stiffen sufficiently, before adding more coils. Read more

Pauline Ryan

I have been working with clay for over 30 years, producing many forms of ceramic pieces and also teaching children and adults in my studio at Castle Hill. Read more

Louise Martiensen

LouiseM studio is the ceramics practice of designer/maker Louise Martiensen. Read more

Sally Howe

About 12 years ago she started working with clay again producing both figurative and conceptual sculptural works. Read more

Fashion designer

Kathleen Berney

Kathleen Berney has worked with textiles since the early 1970’s. She originally studied arts at Sydney University and then was drawn to a more practical hands on approach. Read more

Patricia Muir

Patricia Muir has been producing authentic cloth on her looms for 20 years. Her complex designs and patterns derive from traditional weaves of Viking origin. Read more

Sylvia Riley

Sylvia Riley is an artisan dyer and designer. Fascinated with the different methodologies of applying colour to fabric, Sylvia has learned from dye masters around the globe. Read more

Felt artist

Rae Woolnough

Rae’s experiments in felt making explore different techniques and textural directions. Read more

Katey Gershini

She creates beautiful and quirky felted garments and homewares which have a distinct vintage flavour, recycling old clothing, embellishments and woollens to create her unique pieces. Read more

Furniture

Fanny Clarsen & Jemma Wlasichuk

Sisters-in-law Fanny Clarsen and Jemma Wlasichuk transform furniture into stunning feature pieces that add soul to modern homes. Read More

Glass artist

Penel Bigg

Penel Bigg The first time anyone sees Penel Bigg’s beautiful and sculptural glass works they fall in love with them – they literally look good enough to eat. Read more

Rhondda Retallack

Rhondda has been involved with art and craft for most of her life. She was introduced to ceramics, pottery and sculpture through her Mum back in the 60s, and it has been an ongoing learning experience every since. Read more

Carole-Anne Lunn

Carole-Anne Lunn works with clay and glass producing beautiful and unique sculptural pieces as well as jewellery items. Read more

James Fletcher

Glass is a challenging material to work with, technically and artistically. Glassblowing can be strenuous and exhausting. Read more

Jeweller/jewellery artist

Carole-Anne Lunn

Carole-Anne Lunn works with clay and glass producing beautiful and unique sculptural pieces as well as jewellery items. Read more

Jill Davis

Born under the creative Aquarian star sign in Zimbabwe in the late 1960s, Jill grew up in a time where basic necessities were in short supply and imagination made drums out of tin cans. Read more

Eva Dominello

Eva is a Sydney based lamp-worker, making original glass beads using Moretti & Vetrofond rods. Read more

Christina Mija

For me, jewellery is a unique form of artistic expression. The vast array of possibilities that springs from marrying materials and techniques means there is always new ground to explore. Read more

Brigitte Ehrat

After much creative exploration I was introduced to the art of bead work. Read more

Amanda Morters & Dennis Hicks

Amanda and Dennis are the creative force behind Prickles Designs. Read more

Mira Goldsbrough

Every piece of Mira’s Designs Jewellery is unique and carefully created. Read more

Leather craftsman

Janelle Hampton

Janelle love to experiment with different leathers and techniques and transform them into unique and often unexpected pieces of art that are both visual and tactile. Read more

Mark Jones

Mark Jones is a professional leather craftsman and designer. What started as a high school hobby became his occupation and obsession. Read more

Metal artist

Wayne Wagstaff

A qualified Blacksmith by trade, Wayne forges each piece by hand and then and assembles it for that personal touch. Read more

Wired for Living – Lee Adams & Barry McLoughlan

Growing up and living in rural Victoria, Barry McLoughlan, from a farming background and Lee Adams, a garden and interior designer have been working together as Wired for Living for over 15 years. Read more

Painter

Merilyn Chappel

With a background in journalism and interior design, Merilyn is a bold and adventurous mixed media artist with her own gallery in the northern Sydney suburb of Dural. Read more

Denise Dean

Denise Dean is an artist, graphic designer and illustrator. Renowned for her wonderfully decorative and colourful children’s book illustrations and watercolours, she is also highly regarded for her work in the graphic design industry. Read more

Annaliesa Horne

Annaliesa Horne is a Sydney based artist who draws upon fragments of the everyday and makes it extra-ordinary. Read more

Ian Lean

Ian exhibits in many galleries and art shows and his reputation continues to grow steadily. He has had many solo and combined exhibitions and has won several painting awards. Read more

Gemelle Madigan

Water has always fascinated me. I am mesmerized by the fluidness and the way light skips across and reflects onto the surface. But how to capture this shine? This inner light? Read More

Jessika Steiner

Jessika Steiner was born in New Caledonia where she lived on her Swiss father’s hand built yacht before settling on the Hawkesbury river north of Sydney. Read more

Desley Stewart

Pastel is Desley preferred medium because of its vibrancy and versatility – it’s not chalk or crayon – it’s a stick of pure pigment, and the vast colour range is pure joy. Read more

Karen Tanner

Karen’s training and background is in Graphic Arts. She is an accomplished Painter and Sculptor. Read more

Peter Tugwell

Peter is interested in drawings of nature and highlighting the many and varied shapes and patterns that occur naturally around us. Read More

Fiona Westwood

Fiona , who paints in her home studio in Berrilee , works primarily in oils on canvas or timber as the buttery texture of the medium provides a wonderful tactile painting environment. Read More

Julia Westwood

Julia’s professional practice include drawings and paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour on a variety of different surfaces such as canvas, board and paper. Read More

Photographer

Jenelle Gavin

For the past few years I have been experimenting with photography which utilises focus stacking. Read more

Annita Keating

I started as an Art photographer photographing in Black and White, spending many hours in the dark room capturing hints on composition and chiaroscuro for pictorial effects. Read More

Printmaker

Julia Elsey

Since childhood Julia has loved anything to do with paint, pencils, ink, chalk and paper. Throughout her career as an educator she carved out room for a parallel passion in the creative sphere, honing her skills in many artistic avenues at evening classes in Hornsby TAFE, Workshop Arts Centre in Willoughby and Ku-ring-gai Art Centre in Roseville. Read more

Sculptor

Kim Gibbs

Kim has dabbled in many and varied art-forms, from painting and drawing to craft and sculpture. Read more

Ulric Steiner

Swiss – Australian sculptor blessed with links to many magnificent ancient cultures. Read more

Nettie Sumner

Nettie use both wire and clay to create works that explore the curiosity of nature’s reproduction in different environments. Read more

John Woulfe

Inspired by his life surrounded by the Australian bush and the ocean, John creates bespoke sculptures of unparallel craftsmanship using rare, iconic Australian timbers. Read more

Stonemason

Stuart Weir

Stuart has been a Stone Mason / Structural Landscaper for more than 30 years with his aim to create lasting beauty in the outdoors. Read more

Textile artist

Diana Booth

Diana works primarily with merino wool fibre and a variety of silk products such as silk hankies, ribbons, sari silk, and raw cocoons. Read more

Helen MacRitchie

Helen MacRitchie is a textile artist living and working on the North Shore of Sydney. Read more

Lisa Shepherd

Lisa Shepherd is a textile designer and visual artist currently using photographic cyanotypes to create delicate, joyful artwork. Read more

Mark Dobson

As a medium, Mark was attracted to the alpaca fibre because of its softness to the touch as well as its natural lightness and drape. Read more

Trish Fraunfelter

Living in the beautiful, natural environment of Berrilee, Trish Fraunfelter’s illustrations are a reflection of all that surrounds her. Read more

Textile illustrator & printer

Lisa Shepherd

Lisa Shepherd is a textile designer and visual artist currently using photographic cyanotypes to create delicate, joyful artwork. Read more

Trish Fraunfelter

Living in the beautiful, natural environment of Berrilee, Trish Fraunfelter’s illustrations are a reflection of all that surrounds her. Read more

Winemaker

Tizzana Winery

Situated in the historic Hawkesbury, Tizzana is a unique agribusiness located on the doorstep of Sydney and within easy reach of the famous Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Listed Area and the magnificent Wollemi Wilderness. Read more

Woodworker

Roy Davi

My enthusiasm for this ancient craft began in late 1997, after seeing a pole lathe/ greenwood turning demonstration, which used traditional, ancient techniques for turning chair legs. Read more

Simon Begg

Simon is one of Australia’s top young wood turners, passionately working to create new designs and master the art of wood turning. Read more

WHY YOU SHOULD FOLLOW US

The Arcadian Artists Art Trail & Exhibition has indeed come a long way. Last year we celebrated 27 years of bringing inspirational Artists & Artisans to the local community. We now attract visitors who come from far & wide to enjoy all that is on offer on the second weekend of November every year in this beautiful rural area of Sydney.

Located on the northern edge of Sydney, a picturesque, leisurely country drive links the eight studios and artists within. The Arcadian Artists have created a unique city-country experience for those who attend the event with an eclectic array of artists & artisans presenting work of the highest quality for this exhibition. We endeavour to support an avenue for young and emerging artists, as well as the more established ones, and to this end contribute to the art department of Galston High Schools’ HSC major works.

Behind all of this is a team of hardworking, dedicated committee members who have adopted the same vision of fostering the arts in the local community & beyond as word has spread.

They work tirelessly throughout the year to create what culminates in an outstanding exhibition with hundreds of artworks exhibited by close to fifty select artists, all with different talents and skills.

Each year we have new exhibitors, our venues change & some of the artists are moved to different sites. All of this is to keep the event fresh and interesting.

Technology, social media and the internet are now very much part of our advertising campaign.

Along with a comprehensive brochure, media advertising & editorials, this year we are proud to present our even more comprehensive website www.arcadianartists.com.au

Driven by Merilyn Chappel, the website presents a comprehensive look and insight to all of the artists involved with a myriad of photos of each artist’s works, a wealth of information, maps & venue locations. We are also present on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest so hope you will keep following us throughout the year! You will be able view and download our map with directions to all of the venues from our website.

On the weekend of the 09-10th November Trail will be well sign posted. Printed brochures & maps are readily available from the local shops & an information stand will be located outside the Galston Bendigo Bank – proud sponsor of the Arcadian Artists- on the weekend of the 09-10th November.

Our Artists (by Venues)

“Coomeallah” Studio

Fiona Westwood

Fiona , who paints in her home studio in Berrilee , works primarily in oils on canvas or timber as the buttery texture of the medium provides a wonderful tactile painting environment. Read More

Helen MacRitchie

Helen MacRitchie is a textile artist living and working on the North Shore of Sydney. Read more

Lisa Shepherd

Lisa Shepherd is a textile designer and visual artist currently using photographic cyanotypes to create delicate, joyful artwork. Read more

Fanny Clarsen & Jemma Wlasichuk

Sisters-in-law Fanny Clarsen and Jemma Wlasichuk transform furniture into stunning feature pieces that add soul to modern homes. Read More

Janelle Hampton

Janelle love to experiment with different leathers and techniques and transform them into unique and often unexpected pieces of art that are both visual and tactile. Read more

Patricia Muir

Patricia Muir has been producing authentic cloth on her looms for 20 years. Her complex designs and patterns derive from traditional weaves of Viking origin. Read more

John Woulfe

Inspired by his life surrounded by the Australian bush and the ocean, John creates bespoke sculptures of unparallel craftsmanship using rare, iconic Australian timbers. Read more

Julia Westwood

Julia’s professional practice include drawings and paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour on a variety of different surfaces such as canvas, board and paper. Read More

Diana’s Studio

Diana Booth

Diana works primarily with merino wool fibre and a variety of silk products such as silk hankies, ribbons, sari silk, and raw cocoons. Read more

Karen Tanner

Karen’s training and background is in Graphic Arts. She is an accomplished Painter and Sculptor. Read more

Carole-Anne Lunn

Carole-Anne Lunn works with clay and glass producing beautiful and unique sculptural pieces as well as jewellery items. Read more

Katarina Wells

My aim is to express a sense of balance and harmony through my work. I hand build my pieces over a period of a few days, to allow the clay to stiffen sufficiently, before adding more coils. Read more

Tizzana Winery

Situated in the historic Hawkesbury, Tizzana is a unique agribusiness located on the doorstep of Sydney and within easy reach of the famous Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Listed Area and the magnificent Wollemi Wilderness. Read more

Sylvia Riley

Sylvia Riley is an artisan dyer and designer. Fascinated with the different methodologies of applying colour to fabric, Sylvia has learned from dye masters around the globe. Read more

Kathleen Berney

Kathleen Berney

Kathleen Berney has worked with textiles since the early 1970’s. She originally studied arts at Sydney University and then was drawn to a more practical hands on approach. Read more