On "The Heysen Trail"

Being a part of the Heysen Trail exhibition has been an exciting, enjoyable and stimulating experience. I have discovered new places in South Australia by driving to different parts of the trail and walking in many different areas ranging from the coast at Victor Harbor and Cape Jervois, where the trail starts,  to many places in the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf, and to The cedars where Hans Heysen lived.

As a painter I aim to portray the interest and beauty of things around me and try to produce an exciting composition by using bright colour and tonal contrasts together with interesting mark making. In these paintings I have used imaginative colour and have applied the paint freely, to give a sense of movement and spontaneity.

Throughout my artistic journey I have been influenced by many artists and marvel at their achievements. I have been particularly inspired by the works of Cezanne, Matisse, Van Gogh and Bonnard and am always excited by their brushwork and expressive use of colour.

Mary studied drawing and painting at Southampton College of Art in the UK and at the North Adelaide School of Art. Her interests include landscape, still-life, life-drawing and portraiture. She has exhibited in SA, interstate and the UK.

Amongst many other awards, Mary has won first prize in Rotary Art Shows at Port Adelaide (three times, including the last two years), Campbelltown (twice), Blackwood and Tea Tree Gully and has been a finalist in the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, the Fleurieu Biennale, the Alice Bale Art Award and the Heysen Prize.

Mary is a Fellow of the Royal SA Society of Arts and former President of the Adelaide Art Society.