Visual Arts Education

Phil has studied at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney and has also studied classical drawing and painting techniques in Italy at the Florence Academy of Art. Phil has been a finalist in a major realist drawing and painting prizes such as the Alice Bale and Kenneth Jack Memorial Award as well as being a finalist in the Percival Portrait Prize, Blue Mountains Portraits, Mudgee Portrait Prize and the National Portrait Gallery Darling Portrait Prize. Phil also teaches classical drawing and painting skills and techniques as well as artistic anatomy, and is available for commissions and workshops. Phil has run specialised workshops in areas such as silverpoint as well as classical atelier techniques and figurative drawing and painting.

I am a painter and filmmaker. In 2007, I established Frogmouth Films making documentary and environmental, social justice pieces. I am currently in pre production on a documentary titled: Unstoppable Change. In 2024 I am also excited to be part of the Planetary Health group show, in September at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. Other works include: 2023 Watermark (7:59 min), 2023 Ego's Garden (9:58 min), 2022, Changing the Story (10:44 min), 2021 Another Future (10:44 min), 2020 Esk (7:16min), 2019 Walking (home) (3:33 min), 2018 Courage for the Long Haul (14min) 2013 Knitting Nannas (21 min), 2011 Being with Her (40min), 2010 Throwing Out the Lies with the Birthwater (40min) Selected Solo exhibitions 2019​​ Courage: Painting, film and photography, Platform Gallery, Katoomba 2002 ​​From Away: Funded by NSW Regional Arts C.A.S.P. including site specific sculptural ​​​​installation in Kinchega National Park, exhibition in Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, ​​​​weaving workshops, education kit for schools and video documentary. Contributor / camerawork 2022​​ Another Future and Hadrian projects with Textile Audio/ Eve Klein and Ensemble Offspring 2017​​ Sacrifice Zone, Cloudcatcher Media, David Lowe and Eve Jeffreys 2014​​ The Bentley Effect, Director Brendan Shoebridge 2013​​ Sydney Water Catchment, Lock the Gate from Undermining Australia, Coal ​​​​vs Communities, Director/editor: David Lowe.

Ladybird Design Creative Studio is the culmination of creating a life around Fran’s passions of art, jewellery and teaching. It frees Fran to take a piece of silver, blank canvas or paper, turn it into a beautiful thing and share it with the world every day. Fran believes now more than ever that pursuing one’s passions makes life more colourful and vibrant, gives us pleasure and purpose, but most of all it reminds us of who we are. Unleash and Explore. Fran knows from decades of experience that everybody has the potential for creativity within, they just need her expertise to help them unleash it - and unleash it she will, surprising you with what lies in wait to blossom! ​At Ladybird Design Creative’s purpose-built studio, Fran creates memorable and creative experiences with a relaxed, fun and positive vibe, all designed to unlock and explore your hidden or budding creativity. ​If you are a complete beginner or if you feel you don’t have a creative bone in your body - Fran promises you will surprise yourself with your artistic talent! Feel Pure Joy. Creating something new from inspiration or imagination gives pure satisfaction and joy. In a mere few hours to a full glorious day, you’ll feel recharged, refreshed, and revitalised. Of course you take your masterpiece home to impress your family and friends with your new found skill. Fran would love to share the joy of creating and making with you.

I work within the Arts & Cultural services of Regional NSW, providing skills in graphic design, art program administration, project management, data collection for research, facilitation and mentoring. Recent programs include: Culture Dose for Kids art program from AGNSW and The Black Dog Institute with funding from the Jibb Foundation, Intergenerational Playgroup with BANC with funding from NBMPHN and Wentworth Healthcare. As a highly skilled brand communication designer with over 25 years experience, most recently running my own business specialising in design for the Arts and Cultural sector, I manage all design projects from initiation to completion and excel in customer service forming long-lasting working relationships with clients and suppliers. Recent clients include: Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, Blue Mountains City Council Cultural Development and Place Management teams, and Regional Futures for Regional Arts NSW.

Linda Swinfield is a mid-career Hybrid printmaker whose work is now multi- tangent. Her art making career begun as a visual art student in 1979 where she majored in black and white analogue photography and experimental painting at Meadowbank Technical College in Sydney. Since then photography and drawing have remained a constant diary for Swinfield. In 1983 she enrolled in a Bachelor of Visual Arts at City Art Institute (University of NSW) where she majored in Drawing and Lithography. Swinfield completed a Masters of Fine Art at The University of Newcastle in 2010 and it was here that many of the studio based disciplines of her youth merged, particularly photographic media in printmaking integrating drawing, and painting with the gathering of documents, research, text and history as an intrinsic storytelling process. Since graduating from the Masters of Fine Art in 2010 she has been selected for Artist in Residences with Captivate in Western Sydney from 2019- 20, Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery in April 2017, Thirning Villa, Ashfield in 2015, Laughing Waters Road AIR (Eltham Victoria) with Nillumbik Council in 2013 and the Gunyah AIR in Port Stephens, NSW in 2012 where she returned to in February 2016. Additionally she was recently selected for the Swan Hill Print and Drawing Awards, Hidden Sculpture Walk 2018 and 2015, Sculpture in the Vineyards, Nillumbik Prize in 2014 and 2017 and the Laman Street Art Prize in 2013, The Women’s Art Prize in 2016 and held solo exhibitions in the Newcastle University Gallery. In 2010 she was awarded a NSW Marketing Grant, by NAVA. Contemporary printmaking is now the spine of her artmaking processes, most recently she has extended her printmaking skill into photo lithography and developed suites of objects as installation utilizing contemporary processes of laser cutting and digital media. Her work is represented in public and private collections in Australia and Europe.

To the Trees is the brainchild of Lauren Gero, a passionate artist whose goal is to encourage connection and love for the Earth and for each other. Living and working in the Blue Mountains, she is inspired by and protective of the natural world. This is done by creating heartfelt artworks and reproducing them in the most environmentally friendly ways available - using only 100% recycled paper, manufacturing all products within Australia and packaging with minimal to no plastic. To The Trees was the title of one of the first illustrations I created when I started out as a freelance illustrator in 2012. It depicts a person walking away from a city full of pollution and towards the trees. It is symbolic of the values that are so important to me in my personal and business life.

I'm an artist and designer working in the field of immersive and interactive media. I'm interested in the aesthetics of how people interact with virtual environments and what simulated realities can tell us about humanity. My research focuses on applications for immersive visualisation and experimental digital technologies to the preservation and interpretation of important cultural heritage sites, collections and museums. I'm interested in how we can use new media platforms to create new, embodied sensory experiences that allow us to understand heritage in innovative ways. I'm also interested in the mechanics of immersive design. My background is in art history and museums, and I work closely with the GLAM sector on digital conservation, exhibition design and interaction design projects.

I am a visual artist, film maker, photographer, published writer and teacher. I have lived in the upper Blue Mountains for over 20 years. I have exhibited my work locally, nationally and internationally and my work is in both public and private collections. My art practice spans a mix of video, painting, photography and sculpture. I am available and keen to discuss new projects, exhibitions and collaborations.

From Jennie's little garden studio, she creates art from Blue Mountains landscapes to quirky illustrative characters. She also runs one-off workshops and termly classes to share her knowledge and encourage others to create. Her most recent body of work encapsulates the exploration and rediscovery of the natural landscape of the Blue Mountains from the time of the pandemic lockdowns. From this came her first solo book LOOKOUT, in which she encourages you to discover lookouts, through the artists eye. Whether you appreciate differing art techniques or are looking for inspiration for your own art journey, within these pages you will find Jennie's local knowledge and artistic ramblings. Jennie's illustrative art brand is called Hiccup Art, so called as Jennie hiccups nearly every day. Her illustrations are quirky, sometimes whimsical, and often from her daydreaming imagination. Jennie has illustrated Children's books, created originals and art prints. Her love of sharing knowledge has also lead her to work with schools Artist in Residence programs, Art Camps and Children's workshops. Her LOOKOUT book, originals, prints and cards can be found in local galleries, book stores, visitor centres, boutique retail stores, online and local artisan markets. Please contact Jennie for wholesale enquiries, commissions, collaborations and creative workshops.

Alison's lifelong passion for the creative arts has seen her pursue many successful ventures. Alison initially trained and taught as a high school visual arts teacher then, after having children, she developed a range of artistic businesses to fit in with raising her family; photography, greeting cards, painting and bespoke cake toppers. Engaging in further study, Alison completed a graduate diploma in art therapy in 2018 achieving a Dean’s merit award. In 2020 her ballpoint pen drawing ‘Billie” was a finalist in the M16 Drawing Prize. Alison’s Dogs of Springwood exhibition at Braemar Gallery early 2021 was tremendously successful with high attendance and sales. This body of work evolved into a children’s book ‘I Like Dogs’, delighting adults and children alike with the intricate ballpoint pen drawings of our canine friends. Alison is currently in high demand for her pet portraits and is also delving back into a former passion - ceramics. Her Misty mountains range is her newest project that will be available through the Visitor Information Centres and her web sight exclusively.

Estee is an illustrator, designer and educator with an interest in local, non-commercial and community-focused projects. She has a background in print and book design, teaches at the University of Sydney as a casual academic, and is a co-director at volunteer-run risograph printing co-op, the Rizzeria. She facilitates a range of creative workshops and classes for all ages. Estee also facilitates a monthly zine making meet-up (@mtnszineclub) and co-organises the annual Blue Mountains Zine Fair.

I'm a visual artist, editor, researcher, project manager and teacher. I make exhibition work (installations), edit (academic articles, PhD and Master theses, exhibition catalogues) and produce neat layout (articles, catalogues). I’ve worked in digital humanities (visual arts, history, museums) and journal publishing (scientific, art history). I've taught at uni and TAFE (visual arts) as well as high school (visual arts, English). I am available for editing, layout, teaching/workshops, research and anything to do with managing projects, publications or collections data.