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 Location
Be delighted by the picturesque bush setting, majestic rocky outcrops and lakeside studio
6 Pine Valley Rd, Galston, NSW 2159 Australia
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 Artists
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.
My enthusiasm for this ancient craft began many years ago when I first came across ‘bodging’ – the traditional craft of greenwood turning. Bodging was developed in medieval times and later used for creating fine furniture including the classic Windsor chair.
More recently I have broadened my interests and now create my own style of greenwood furniture as well as traditionally crafted wooden household utensils.
Karen is a painter, sculptor and picture framer.
She completed her formal studies in Comercial Art and Graphic Design in the School of Fine Arts at Randwick Technical College.
Her design, promotional and illustration skills were further developed with lengthy work opportunities in the corporate world. She was employed a Designer and Commercial Artist in the Sales Promotion Department of CSR Building Materials Division in Sydney. Her work involved setting up photographic shoots, designing and displaying promotional materials.
She completed her formal studies in Comercial Art and Graphic Design in the School of Fine Arts at Randwick Technical College.
Her design, promotional and illustration skills were further developed with lengthy work opportunities in the corporate world. She was employed a Designer and Commercial Artist in the Sales Promotion Department of CSR Building Materials Division in Sydney. Her work involved setting up photographic shoots, designing and displaying promotional materials.
I’ve always loved weaving – right back from when I was a 5 year old, weaving willow into bangles and halos. Now I have progressed to creating baskets, bowls, and other forms with more of a sculptural aesthetic –having collected the fibres from the bush and the garden. As I travel around, I keep my eyes peeled for any materials useful for my weaving. Other useful materials are included in a large collection of man-made fibres that I keep in my studio.
I have a passion for the beauty of nature, including the process of decay over time – which creates its own textural qualities in some of the materials I use. My pieces therefore have both a story that I give them, and the story of the fibres used.
I have a passion for the beauty of nature, including the process of decay over time – which creates its own textural qualities in some of the materials I use. My pieces therefore have both a story that I give them, and the story of the fibres used.
Nicole Miranda of Originally Nic is a Sydney Graphic and Visual Artist plus Ceramicist inspired predominantly by nature; largely Australian flora and fauna. Nic has been creating and selling her original pieces for over twenty years through exhibitions, craft shows, markets, selected stores and galleries. She likes to create and produce original paintings in a variety of mediums plus design and produce earthenware ceramic items which she either hand builds or slipcasts. These include table tops, tiles, homewares, garden art and jewellery. The hand built pieces are each quite unique and most often are imprinted with plant material and other interesting forms either grown by Nic or collected locally.
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.
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.
Images From Our Exhibiting Artists
Julia Elsey
Roy Davi
Karen Tanner
Sharon Bartle
Nicole Miranda
Christina Mija