Congratulations to all the entrants and the winners!
The Bundanoon Community Association, in collaboration with its subcommittee Arts Bundanoon, is proud to present the first-ever Bundanoon Portrait Prize and Exhibition — a vibrant new celebration of portraiture and the people of the Southern Highlands. Congratulations to all of the entrants and thank you for your support. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner in each category. Our judges would like to acknowledge the quality of all the entries, and convey that it was indeed a hard decision.
First prize: Wayne Davis
“JOHN BLESSES THE ANIMALS”
Acrylic NFS
This portrait is of John Creighton, a Bundanoon identity. The painting is a homage to the Renaissance style and subject matter; in this instance, St Francis of Assis.
Honorary mention: Sonja Bowden
“NIKKI AT JIMMY’S”
Colour Pencil NFS
My inspiration was simply to re-create a wonderful image taken during a family holiday. My purpose was to capture and illustrate a memory of the pure emotion I hold for my only child.
Aspiring youth: Isaac Cutroni
“Restraint”
Charcoal & Graphite on paper $1,100.00
The subject of this portrait is my Mum, Averil Cutroni, who has lived in the Southern Highlands for 24 years. She is connected to the community through her work in community development in local schools. I have chosen her as my subject because I know her in a depth that most people don’t. This allows me to incorporate authentic emotion in the work. This portrait explores the feeling where emotions exist but aren’t shared. It uses subtle expression to suggest a moment of hesitation, where the subject is holding back and emotion is felt but not spoken or expressed.
Allan Byrne
“Barista”
Acrylic on board NFS
Portrait of Justin Crebert, a well known local barista. He is a recognised Swords Master and organiser of the Bundanoon Dueling Club.
Glynis Charles
“Sarah”
Textiles on Paper $200.00
“This portrait is an abstract representation of Sarah Potter who, along with her husband James, are the well known and loved proprietors of Potter’s Pantry cafe. Sarah and her team support many Bundanoon community events with joy and enthusiasm. The portrait was created using fabric and embroidery. The background is a tribute to the paintings by Sarah’s mother, Gigi Larkin, that hang in the cafe.”
Alison Ludgate
“No Second Prize”
Oil on canvas NFS
“No Second Prize was the first single released by Jimmy Barnes in 1984. I had to paint Jimmy as he touched my soul with his music like so many and for this I am grateful. Throughout my life I have listened to Jimmy’s music and I relate so much to his life, having a similar childhood. I am a self-taught artist from Moss Vale. I paint people and things that touch my soul or have, in some way, been an important part of my life.”
Robyn Frank
“Grandpa”
Fineline pen NFS
“My portrait is of my grandfather Dr Tony Lacey who has a profound connection to the Southern Highlands. Tony has spent the majority of his life riding and breeding stock horses as well as working with cattle on his property in Bundanoon. This lifelong engagement with animals and land has fostered a deep respect for the environment, grounded in care and responsibility. I have created this portrait through a process of dot work. Each individual mark represents a core memory we have shared together. Collectively, these dots form not only his likeness but a visual record of time spent in conversation; in quiet understanding; lessons passed down and moments of laughter.”
Deborah Heeley
“Miss Charlotte”
Oil NFS
“This portrait portrays my granddaughter, Charlotte, in a moment of childhood innocence. I focused on simplicity, softness and expression to convey the sincerity and openness that define her age and spirit.”
Lisa Brack
“Bird Brained”
Watercolour $400.00
“Having been a pharmacist in Bundanoon for over 30 years and living in the Southern Highlands for over 40 years, I have a deep affection for the community here. This self-portrait reflects my connection to the local environment and my quirky sense of self. I use a range of techniques including painting and printmaking. Birds and wildlife are most often the subjects of my works. I love to use vibrant colours and tend to work with a smaller more intimate format to connect the viewer with my subject.”
Oliver Stokes Hughes
“Jamilah”
Oil on panel NFS
“Jamilah was born in the foothills of Mount Ungaran in Central Java, Indonesia, and grew up in Bandung, West Java. As a teenager, her mother emigrated to the United States and her father later passed away.In search of a better life, Jamilah left Indonesia for Australia. Now a citizen, Jamilah’s story is a testament to her spirit: from navigating Australian culture to the unexpected death of her mother, she meets triumph with gratitude and hardship with patience. When asked what she wanted in her portrait, Jamilah responded “a star” and so I gave her 6 stars of longing and stars of joy.”
Sumit Ameria
“Cecil and I”
Pen & Ink and Gouache NFS
“Last winter was cold and wet. I was left by everyone to look after the animals in the Sludge. Cecil the pet Corella was my constant companion but I still felt very sorry for myself…..!”
Dave Thomas
“Sally”
Oil on canvas. NFS
“I chose Sally Beresford as my subject as I was intrigued by her looks, style and personality. Sally is a well known identity, who with her husband, ran a farm, a French restaurant and vineyard at Mount Ashby, Moss Vale. Her creative tendencies prompted a passion for designing and crafting large tables from oak trees which she selected in France and sold throughout Australia and overseas. As a professional artist I focus on portrait commissions, teaching and lecturing. I have been a finalist in the Archibald Prize and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. I have portraits hung in many venues throughout Australia including Parliament House, Canberra.”
Grace Paleg
“Elder Colin Davis”
Pastel & acrylic paint. NFS
“Colin Davis is our most eminent Elder in Batemans Bay and surrounds. The 78 yr old Wiradjuri man is a survivor of the Stolen Generations who grew up in a Boys Home in the NSW mid-north. One of Uncle Colin’s joys, as well as a way to cope with the trauma he experienced, is through painting and art. He goes to the local bus stop every day to yarn with those waiting and to wave to passing traffic. Locals acknowledge him and recognise him as part of the fabric of the community. He carries forgiveness in his heart.”
Tony Heaton
“Ineke”
Acrylic NFS
Ineke, Tony Heaton’s wife, came to Australia from Holland in 1956 at the age of 10 years. After marriage to Tony in 1968, they moved to Moss Vale and then Mittagong in 1970 where they reside. Tony is a casual, self taught painter.
Tony Heaton
“Does it Rain in Bundanoon?”
Acrylic NFS
A purely freezing subject on a wintry afternoon in Bundanoon, captured on canvas by Tony, a self taught, unknown artist, living in Mittagong.
Christine Dixon
“Softly Reflective”
Acrylic on canvas $1000.00
“I have chosen to paint my friend Christine Rowell-Miller. Christine has spent her life in service and leadership. This portrait is an attempt to hold her presence as it is now - attentive, composed and unmistakably herself.”
Lee Borradale
“Vera”
Acrylic NFS
“Vera Blain is a very active member of the Bundanoon community. Many people are appreciative of her contribution through the Bundanoon Anglican and Uniting Churches, the Good Yarn, Lions Club, RFS Auxiliary, Warrigal Retirement Village volunteer and the Bundanoon Club volunteer. Vera worked with the Uniting Church Parramatta for 40 years and as a Mental Health support person at the Parramatta Mission for 13 years, providing accomodation for about 30 people in need.”
Alison Ludgate
“Carpe Diem”
Oil on canvas NFS
“Ken Davidson has made a positive difference to many people in the Highlands as a Veterinary Doctor since 1976. Now retired, his contribution to the Highlands is significant. His practice was in Argyle St, Moss Vale and Bundanoon village. He is also an avid art collector, and displayed many of his loved paintings in his now closed practice. Carpe Diem Ken…..Seize the Day….You Have Earned IT!”
Charlie Lee
“The Years Together”
Pastel on Paper $580.00
“As a portrait artist and member of the South Coast Pastel Society and Creative Arts Batemans Bay Incorporated (CABBI), I am inspired by the quiet strength and dignity of people whose lives embody kindness, devotion and resilience. Through pastel, I seek to capture not only physical likeness but also the emotional truth and spirit that define each individual. This portrait depicts Birt Folstra, a 95 yr old student in my senior art class. After service in the Australian Army, Bert dedicated his life to helping others as an ambulance driver along the South Coast of NSW. Widely respected for his compassion and humility, he continues to live with the same steady grace that once guided his work and service.”
Peter Engle
“Phil from Moonacres”
Mixed media NFS
“Phil is a longtime friend whom I met at Moss Vale Growers Market. I have tried to convey Phil’s easy going nature and quirky sense of humour.”
Oliver Stokes Hughes
“Leng”
Oil on panel NFS
“Leng was born in Cambodia before fleeing Pol Pot’s regime for Vietnam. When Saigon fell, he sought refuge in Australia. He apprenticed and worked with the tailor J.H. Cutler OAM before opening his own atelier. Leng stands illuminated in half-light. The scene’s equinox is deftly marked by drapery, as distant mountains fade into the sea. This composition took 6 months to complete. The most complex element is Leng’s jacket, created using approximately 30,000 individual daubs of paint, layered in 33 colour variations to meticulously recreate the complex weave.”
Kerrie Leishman
“Maggie New, A Light in a Dark World”
Oil painting on canvas $3500.00
“I chose to paint Maggie because I find her very inspiring and because she makes a conscious choice to enrich her and other peoples lives. She is a great example of how to give and how to show kindness to others. Maggie moved to Bundanoon in 2020. Knowing no one she started to join various groups, gradually finding her way and making new friends. It was a brave and inspirational act. Her kind and giving spirit has touched many and her delicious Scottish lilt, her dress sense, and especially her hat collection make her quite unmistakably unique.”
Helen Stubbs
“Peter Poole”
Acrylic/charcoal on canvas. NFS
“After a long and stressful career in Graphic Design in Sydney and overseas, my husband and I escaped to the peaceful Southern Highlands. Since retiring, I have focused on my painting, mostly in acrylics on canvas and other media, with subjects from nature and more recently portraiture. My subject is my husband Peter Poole. A kind soul who has served in the RFS for more than 25 years and is passionate about helping others.”
Carla Gates
“Father Chris Riley”
Oil on linen canvas. $800.00
“In painting this portrait, I aimed to capture the humanity of a man whose strength lay in quiet resolve, warmth and persistence. Father Chris Riley AM, a Salesian priest and founder of Youth Off the Streets remained a humble man whose mission was working directly with young people on the streets and quietly building pathways out of crisis. Beginning with a simple food van, his work grew into a wide network of outreach, education, accommodation and support services that transformed the lives of many. In the Southern Highlands he had the Youth Off the Streets shop in Bowral to help support his commitment. This portrait is offered as an act of respect and gratitude.”
Scout Newell
“6 AM Start: A Self Portrait”
Acrylic on canvas $300.00
“This portrait speaks to my experience entering the working world as a young adult and the challenges my generation faces. Most days the 6 am alarm is the start of my working day which demands productivity on an ever increasing level. My fear is to not have enough time to earn enough money to be able to own a home and support a family and live. My refuge is to escape to the Highlands where I am woken only by birds, and to recharge for my return to my 6am life. In the Highlands I am very lucky to have the unwavering support of those special to me.”
Susie Edwards
“Emma”
Acrylic on canvas NFS
Emma Dunnage is an inspiring, energetic and generous Penrose community artist. She coordinates the Friday evening’s “Natter & Splatter” where she supports and encourages all with her delightful humour and artistic skills.
Riley Felton
“Stained”
Coffee,water,salt,varnish. $3000.00
“My chosen materials are not symbolic abstractions but rather practical substances embedded in working-class routines. Socially acceptable drugs like caffeine and alcohol function as tools that mark the beginning and end of the working day: stimulants to endure labor; sedatives to recover from it. My approach is informed by the watercolour practice of Cherry Hood, particularly her sensitivity to bleeding, staining and the acceptance of fluid movement within the image. Like watercolour, coffee behaves as a medium that records time, gravity and touch, making the process as visible as the result. The material’s refusal to be fully controlled becomes central to the work’s meaning.”
Catherine Hanes
“Kitty Cat Ayers”
Mixed Media. $1500.00
“This is a portrait of my friend Allison Ayers, widely known as Cat. From our first chance meeting she and her husband Ted, revealed people deeply embedded in community life, creativity and generosity of spirit. The composition is structured like a poster, referencing Cat’s long involvement in Melting Pot Theatre, particularly her role in costume-making. Hand-printed and hand-cut papers are layered over a painted background and form the figure and key elements. Embellishments and pen work run across the surface, with stitched-like lines suggesting both Cat’s connection to making and the broader journey of life.
Deborah Heeley
“First Train Ride”
Oil NFS
“This painting depicts my grandson during a quiet moment of his first train ride. The reflected image in the window captures a fleeting sense of wonder and introspection, revealing the poetry of a child encountering the world.”
Annette Miles-McCarron
“Dr Peter Richard-Herbert”
Oil on 640g paper NFS
“Dr. Peter Richard-Herbert is an analytical psychotherapist working in Bowral. He was recognised last year by the Australian Counselling Association, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence. Not only is he a snappy dresser with a kind face, he also wears with pride his “Bushido” top knot bun, representing within himself an ethical, disciplined lifestyle developed through his practice of Japanese martial arts. Through a varied and travelled life, he has collected hundreds of artworks and curios, all adding a vibrant atmosphere to his individuality.”
Susan Marold
“Jess from Penrose Post Cafe”
Acrylic on canvas $775.00
“Jess runs the Penrose Post Cafe with her husband Scott. It is a meeting place for the Penrose community and those passing through. On meeting Jess one is aware of her warm compassionate spirit. In this portrait I wanted to bring out her Mona Lisa smile and her lovely elfin-like features. The image of the horse reflect her love of horses and her passion for riding. Her Chihuahuas is a love and is featured in many of her photos. Other symbols: leaves, cuppa, milkshake and a key all have special meaning. I am an amateur painter with a kind of Impressionist/ Naive style, honing my skills and enjoying this creative time in my life, connecting with our creative community.”
Ruth Jones
“Ron Jones”
Watercolour NFS
“This is a portrait of my late father-in-law, Ronald Francis Jones. He and his beloved wife Pat moved to the Southern Highlands more than 30 years ago. Ron was an advocate of permaculture and participated in the Garden Ramble. He engaged in the community transport programme, driving locals to appointments for many years. Ron was an avid writer having written a few books and plays; some of which featured in the Melting Pot Theatre and the Armidale Playhouse’s annual “Favourite Shorts” festival. He was a member of the writing group FAWSH (Fellowship of Australian Writers of the Southern Highlands) where he was a mentor for some years.”
Christine Marlow
“Huw Kingston”
Watercolour $480.00
“Huw is an adventurer, writer, environmental advocate and champion for children’s rights, in short a formidable force. His contributions to our community are “Bundy on Tap” and the Highland Fling, a bike event that brought the community and tourists together. His ongoing passion is improving the lives and futures of disadvantaged children worldwide as an ambassador fundraising for Save the Children. I used watercolour to capture Huw’s immediacy and conviction. The colour palette reflects the clarity and intensity of our southern skies. In a highlands landscape he sets himself a new challenge; be it on foot, bike, kayak, skis or all of the above.”
Mark Hill
“The Novelist”
Oil on canvas NFS
“This portrait is of my sister, Deborah O’Brien who is a published novelist, contributor to a range of lifestyle, art and craft magazines and gardener at her Bundanoon home. My aim was to portray not only her likeness but her creative spirit. In my retirement I chose to dedicate my time to portrait painting, a form that allows me to tell a story and capture personality. Through researching the great masters and studying their techniques, I have shaped and refined my own style.”
Jean David
“Dirty Jane”
Oil on canvas. $2,500.00
“This portrait is of the character Dirty Jane after whom the store in Bowral is named. While researching I found an old black & white photo of her on Wikipedia. I used this as a model to which I applied just a touch of ‘licence’. Jean David is an internationally awarded artist and art teacher. He has been painting and exhibiting here and internationally for over 25 yrs. His work is held in many private collections in London, Paris, Berlin, The Netherlands, China, New Zealand and Australia.”
Amanda Rennie
“In Conversation with Sylvia”
Acrylic, watercolour, Gouache & ink. NFS
“Sylvia David is a Bundanoon local whose life unfolds in constant dialogue with the natural world. Captured mid-moment, Sylvia listens intently to the live chatter of a willy wagtail - a small bird with a big personality. Sylvia has worked for more than a decade with Friends of Morton National Park and is part of the local Habitat Gardeners, whose environmental work is deeply rooted in friendship and community. They propagate natives and raise funds for Wombat Care Bundanoon and are now growing a huge batch of she-oaks for the Glossy Black Cockatoo Project. This portrait is a reflection on listening: to birdsong, to Country, to the quiet wisdom of the land. It celebrates the gentle humour, resilience and generosity of those who care for the environment - and reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful conversations don’t need words at all.”
With thanks to our sponsors:
Bruce & Fiona Pryor
