Central Coast Artists 2008: June 14 - July 6

For many years the Central Coast region has attracted the attention of some of this country’s greatest artists. Its beautiful coastline and stunning environment have been captured by the likes of Sydney Long, Lloyd Rees, Douglas Dundas and Roland Wakelin. Increasingly the Central Coast is becoming home to a diverse group of leading Australian artists. The region’s natural environment, growing cosmopolitan communities and proximity to Sydney have attracted numerous artists to establish their studios here.

This gallery has enjoyed an ongoing relationship with many such artists and it is with great pleasure that we present our first group exhibition dedicated to artists of the Central Coast region. For this exhibition we have selected a groups of artists who have both been associated with this gallery and achieved recognition on a national level in recent times. This is not intended to be a definitive list of the region’s foremost artists. It is, rather, a small cross-section.

Andrew Bennett's paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne as well as two hugely popular shows with us. This year his painting "The Casual Farmer" was selected for the Wynne Prize.

Bela Ivanyi boasts works in the collection of the Australian National Gallery as well as many other public, private and corporate collections. For many years he has been recognised as one of this region’s foremost artists. Bela regularly leads painting trips throughout Australia accompanied by a list of stellar Australian artists.

Peter Smeeth' portraits of Clover Moore and Opera Singer Amelia Feruggia have been exhibited in recent Archibald Prize exhibitions. His 2008 entry - a portrait of Phillip Adams - won the People's Choice Award at the Salon de Refuse exhibition.

Paul Haggith has exhibited regularly in Sydney, The Central Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane. In 2007 his large-scale sea scape was shortlisted for the Art Gallery of NSW Wynne Prize.

Mike Worrall's distinctive paintings are regularly selected for the Art Gallery of NSW Sulman Prize. He has held numerous solo exhibitions in Sydney and his paintings are collected internationally.