Arcadian Artists Pine Valley Studio

Be delighted by the picturesque bush setting, majestic rocky outcrops and lakeside studio

Pine Valley Studio is an unexpected surprise.

One of the first, and most dramatic features you encounter as you enter the property, is the ancient rock face of the cliff under which the gallery is positioned. Meandering around the lake, past the large peppermint gums and the radiata pines to a grassy opening will bring the visitor to a creative space where anything is possible. While Ranford busies himself with all that acreage requires, Julia is engrossed in her studio with her etching press and inks.

Imagination is inspired by the surrounding bushland, amazing views and continual carolling of the birds.

Our Art

Intaglio & relief prints and collagraphs
Traditionally turned wooden furniture and homewares
Mixed media paintings and wire sculptures
Uniquely woven and textured basket ware
Hand crafted and painted ceramics
Uniquely designed and finely crafted silver jewellery

Our Location

Be delighted by the picturesque bush setting, majestic rocky outcrops and lakeside studio

6 Pine Valley Rd, Galston, NSW 2159 Australia

Julia ElseyPrintmaker

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. Now retired, and with Roslyn Kean, a highly regarded Japanese woodblock artist as her mentor, she is free to refine her artistic expression in printmaking.

Rae WoolnoughTextile Artist

Rae’s experiments in felt making explore different techniques and textural directions. Using various processes, she creates artworks, vessels and sculptures that attempt to draw the viewer in to closely examine and explore the finer details of each piece.

Ian LeanPainter

Born in Bellingen, country NSW in 1952, Ian lived on the north coast, NSW, until leaving school in 1970.
After a horse riding accident at 13yrs, he dabbled in painting landscapes. He can remember being driven around the countryside by his parents looking for scenes to paint.

After leaving school he moved to Sydney to follow a career in Land Surveying and it was at this time he viewed a number of art exhibitions and this renewed his interest in painting again. He had limited tuition from James Wynne, Allan Fizzell and John Wilson but is mostly self taught.

Christina MijaJeweller

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. As something portable and wearable it travels through our daily lives and can be a simple adornment or a piece of art that hints at both the designer’s vision and the wearer’s self-expression.
I had originally intended to be a fashion designer and was fortunate to be able to train at East Sydney Technical College’s Dress Design Studio in the early 80s – a course that taught a myriad of practical skills but also had a very strong emphasis on design for it’s own sake. But whilst my fashion designer ambition did not endure, the design principles I learned during my time there have influenced me to this day.

Mark Dobson Textile artist

A fascination for felted textiles in alpaca and silk fibre. As a medium, I am attracted to the alpaca fibre because of its softness to the touch and its natural lightness and drape. Whilst the hand dyed silk adds the dimension of iridescent lustre and the opportunity for vibrant embellishment. Together they create a wearable gourmet fabric that is luxurious to the touch, incredibly light weight and warm and unique in its handcrafted design.
The alpaca is lovingly hand sourced from my own local herd of white fine fleeced animals and at times is complemented with some additional coloured fleece from friends. The allure of the white fleece allows me to experiment with a vibrant colour palette, while the more natural coloured fleeces allow me to produce warm and earthy tones.

Pauline RyanPottery

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.

My work is mainly thrown, altered and Raku or wood fired, and in recent years, I have been experimenting with Naked Raku. I love the instant gratification of the Raku process, and the unpredictability of the outcome. As each piece emerges it feels new, yet familiar, and after all these years the excitement of opening the Kiln never wanes.

Desley StewartPastels

Pastel is my 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. Pastels have been used by artists since the Renaissance including Degas and Manet.
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember and I find working in pastel perfectly dovetails my love of detailed drawing with painting. Creativity was most likely inherited from my mother, Lois Elford, who was a talented porcelain artist, watercolourist and oil painter – but working in pastel became my passion after taking lessons with pastel artist, Deirdre Dixon.