Wild by Nature SALA group exhibition: Celebrating Nature, Community, and Featuring Three of my Australian Bird Paintings
This July and August, I’m thrilled to be part of the Wild by Nature exhibition at Pepper Street Arts Centre in Magill, as part of the 2025 SALA (South Australian Living Artists) Festival. With over 50 South Australian artists contributing across a wide range of media—painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles and more—this exhibition is a lively, multi-sensory celebration of our wild world.
Launch Event:
🗓 Sunday 27 July at 2pm
📍 Pepper Street Arts Centre, 558 Magill Road, Magill, SA
🎉 Free community event with African drumming, art activities, face painting, drinks and nibbles
The opening promises to be a joyous afternoon for all ages, featuring African drumming by Upbeatz, face painting from Love Birdy, and a chance for kids (and the young at heart) to make their own wild animal art using ink and watercolour. And yes—there’s even a prize for the best ‘wild’ outfit, so dig out your leopard print scarf or feathery fascinator!
The exhibition will be officially opened by Mark Smith, a conservationist from Zoos SA, bringing an important voice to an exhibition that encourages connection with and reflection on the natural world.
My Contributions to Wild by Nature
I’m honoured to have three original acrylic paintings in this exhibition, each inspired by my ongoing fascination with Australia's remarkable native birds and their resilience, complexity, and quiet beauty.
Against the Odds
Hooded Plovers – Adult Pair and Chick
These vulnerable beach-nesting birds face daily threats from predators, people, and dogs. In this painting, I’ve captured a rare moment of success: a chick nestled between two watchful parents, framed by shifting sand. It’s a quiet homage to perseverance—and a hopeful glimpse of what’s possible through conservation.
Get a Grip
Female Red-tailed Black Cockatoo – Close-up
With a direct gaze and poised claw, this close-up portrait highlights the intelligence and power of the female red-tailed black cockatoo. The layered background—marked with tail feather motifs—evokes memory and presence. This painting is both celebration and reminder: these birds are still with us, but not to be taken for granted.
Introvert
Female Gang-gang Cockatoo – Portrait
Often overlooked in favour of the flashier male, the female gang-gang reveals her strength in quieter ways. I wanted to draw attention to her subtle beauty: the soft grey plumage touched with glowing embers of orange and red. Introvert invites stillness and contemplation—qualities that many wild creatures embody so well.
Visit the Exhibition
Wild by Nature runs from 27 July to 29 August at Pepper Street Arts Centre, with opening hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 10am–5pm
Saturday: 12pm–5pm
(No bookings needed—just come along!)
All works are for sale, and entry is free. Whether you're looking for a quiet afternoon of browsing or a fun day out with the family, this show offers a beautiful and meaningful way to connect with local art and the wild world we’re all part of.
I’d love to see you there on opening day—or anytime during the season!