On show at Patonga

MacMasters Beach resident Ms Sherry McCourt will show a selection of new artworks, titled Sun, Sand and Caravan, in the Patonga Bakehouse Gallery next month.

The exhibition will be on display every Sunday in March from 11am until 3pm.

Ms McCourt said her new oils on canvas were inspired by her memories of camping and the lazy days of summer.

Ms McCourt has recently retired from a successful teaching career both in Canada and in Australia and has spent the past three years working on building up her art practice.

She has had some formal TAFE training in her field but said she is largely self-taught.

"Being mentored by such talented local artists as Jocelyn Maughn and Robin Norling has been an important part of my learning curve," she said.

Ms McCourt was an invited artist for the 2011 Art by the Sea exhibition in Killcare and has won a number of awards in previous years.

She was named the winner of the Ettalong Paradiso Most Inspirational Artist last year and was runner up People's Choice Margaret Smith award.

She was selected for the Gosford Art Prize, the Peninsula Village Art Show and selected in the Royal Sydney Show for three paintings.

Ms McCourt said her love of draughtsmanship and figure drawing is translated into much of her work.

"My brush finds its way into negative spaces, searching for colour and looking for the music in a piece.

"Mostly a studio artist, I prefer to work in oils and consider myself very lucky indeed if I can coerce a live model to sit for me.

"Painting outdoors at MacMasters Beach, Killcare, Wagstaffe and other local areas where I live, happens regularly."

Email, 15 Feb 2012 Sherry McCourt, MacMasters Beach Website, 17 Feb 2012 Sherry McCourt Photo: Sherry McCourt