Featured Artists
The Canberra Art Fair brings artists from Canberra, the Region, and across the country to the vibrant Canberra art community. Here are some of the talented people who will be exhibiting at #CAF26
Umair Ahmad - Umair Arts
Umair Ahmad is an emerging painter based in Canberra, whose visual arts practice is rooted in a lifelong engagement with drawing and painting, inherited from his grandfather's handcrafted paper flowers and refined through over two decades of creative work. Working across watercolour, acrylic, oil and pyrography, Ahmad currently focuses on watercolour as his primary medium, finding in its fluidity a natural extension of his voice. His recent exhibitions include solo showcases in Canberra (2021), including a notable calligraphic presentation of more than 70 works, as well as group exhibitions in Sydney and Canberra (2021–2023), with select sales contributing to Pakistan flood relief efforts. Beyond the gallery circuit, Ahmad has transformed his own garage into a functioning private exhibition space. With over 20 years of professional experience in graphic, UX and UI design, he now pursues art as a full-time vocation, committed to exhibiting, selling and evolving his creative practice.
Sarah Beetson
Sarah Beetson’s art practice has shifted in recent years from a focus on illustration to a focus on nature. In 2021, Sarah Beetson produced In Bloom, a triptych of large-scale paintings depicting Australian native flowers, conceived during pregnancy and completed throughout early motherhood. The works reflect the physical and psychological dimensions of matrescence, with the process of painting unfolding slowly—leaf by leaf, petal by petal—often while her newborn rested in a pouch between artist and canvas. The three paintings were acquired prior to their exhibition at 19 Karen Gallery, underscoring the resonance of this body of work. Since this pivotal moment, Beetson has continued to explore floral imagery almost exclusively, using the form as a subject through which to examine identity, transformation, and care. For the artist, the repetitive, attentive act of drawing and painting flowers functions both as an aesthetic inquiry and a meditative practice, supporting her navigation of the mental and emotional shifts that accompany parenthood. She has also used the subject as a means to explore identity and connection to country. This thematic transition began with FLOWERS ON YUGAMBEH COUNTRY, a body of work about native flora responding to Australia’s The Voice referendum and acknowledging the traditional indigenous owners of the land she lives upon. Her series “The Interloper” Featured Australian native flowers with transplanted British species, exploring her own identity as a dual citizen. Sarah has looked at native species from Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and is currently working on a series inspired by the conservation of our coral reefs.
Simon Ray
Simon Ray is a photographer specialising in landscape, travel and music photography, living on Ngunnawal country.
"Photography for me is about capturing the beauty of the landscape around us and reminding people just how precious this world is. I specialise in landscape and urban photography, and I do love to capture musicians at live events."
Yasmin Idriss
Yasmin is an artist and photographer in Canberra. Yasmin won the Canberra Museum & Gallery Photography Award in the CAPO Art grants 2023, and she was a finalist in the prestigious Bowness Photography prize 2024 held by the Museum of Australian Photography, Melbourne. When Yasmin is not working at the framing shop or playing with framing rubble, you can find her taking photos of flowers and nature, taking portraits or working on a documentary project. She also loves painting, printmaking and creating sculptures from steel or found objects.
Yasmin coined the term "Yazelation" to describe these unique tessellation-inspired designs that she began creating in 2022. These YazElations embody her dedication to sustainability and her belief in the transformative power of art. They are the result of thoughtfully repurposing framing offcuts into intricate and visually striking pieces that reflect the beauty found in everyday rubble. Through this series, she aims to raise awareness about environmental conservation and the creative possibilities of recycling industrial waste.
Lana-Leigh Lombard
"My journey in the world of art is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and driven by a passion for painting that has been a part of me since childhood. Apparently I was drawing and painting before I could walk or talk. Growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, I was immersed in a vibrant natural landscape that has profoundly influenced me throughout my life by instilling a deep love of nature. A Bachelor of Fine Arts at Rhodes University in South Africa provided me with a formal education in traditional fine art techniques, particularly drawing and oil painting.
These foundational skills continue to inform and shape my artistic expression, even as I explore contemporary trends and materials. Immigrating to Australia over 20 years ago opened up new avenues for artistic exploration. Moving to a completely new environment inspired me to incorporate the experiences and landscapes of my adopted home into my work and whilst still deeply rooted in nature, the subject matter I am drawn to now incorporates both my love of myth, fantasy and the natural world. My work carries these themes across ink drawings, watercolour, acrylic and oil painting. "
Alyson Hayes - Alyson Ceramics
Alyson is a Sydney based ceramic artist whose light sculptures illuminate the delicate patterns and textures in nature. After completing a Design degree at the College of Fine Arts (now UNSW Art and Design), Alyson worked with Angela Mellor whose paper clay technique was instrumental to the evolution of her work. Alyson uses a combination of slip casting and hand built techniques with Bone China. Thinly cast forms are translucent when lit, a process which allows her to make multiples while ensuring each piece is unique. Alyson hopes that through remembering humanity's deep connection with nature we will honor our responsibility to it.
Hossei Abedi
Hossei is an independent photographer from Iran, born in 1986. His artistic practice is largely self-directed and developed outside formal support structures. His work is the result of travel, observation, and the documentation of places whose natural and cultural identities are undergoing change.
He continues his work at a time when many independent artists in Iran face economic challenges and the consequences of recent instability and conflict in the region. Maintaining an artistic practice under such circumstances requires persistence and long-term commitment. The purchase of his work not only helps bring these images to a wider audience, but also directly supports the continuation of his photographic projects and professional practice.
Josephine Townsend Ceramics
Josephine Townsend is a ceramic artist working from her home studio in Canberra. She has a busy retail practice, with a number of stockists in and around Canberra, regular markets, and sales from her studio. She also exhibits regularly, enabling her to explore more complex ideas, forms and surface designs, such as her coloured inlaid porcelain (nerikomi) work. Her nerikomi work is all about colour, pattern and expressing the precious qualities of porcelain; the delicacy, the luminous translucence and the pure colour response.
Josephine is an active member of the Canberra ceramics community. She teaches term classes and workshops at Canberra Potters, as well as supporting new makers, through market ready courses and mentoring. She has been working with clay since the late nineties. Her full time art practice began in 2016, after finishing careers in teaching and the public service.
Caroline Reid
Caroline Reid is a contemporary landscape artist who lives and works in Canberra, Australia, a rugged semi-alpine area hemmed in by mountain ranges to the west and east, Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, and the Snowy Mountains to the south, Walgalu country.
“My love of the semi-alpine region surrounding my home, where I ramble with my three dogs - painting out of doors when the weather permits - infuses my paintings with respect, wonder and reverence for Mother Earth. I paint to bring the feelings, sensations and memories of cherished natural places into my collectors’ homes. I paint my world with child-like joy and hope collectors feel that in their hearts when they view my paintings.”
Jo Layt - Quilluxe Creations
Jo Is a Canberra based quilling artist with over 10 years’ experience, weaving paper strips into intricate designs and forms. For those who don’t know, quilling is the art of rolling and shaping narrow paper strips into delicate, 3D designs.
Though her business Quilluxe Creations, Jo creates everything from greeting cards and unique giftware to framed art. You can find her work at Trove Canberra, a local cooperative of artists and makers with a gorgeous shop in Dickson.
Lily Troupe - Heavenly Palettes by Lily
My paintings are bold, intuitive, and rooted in a prophetic creative process. I work primarily with acrylics on large canvases, using strong vertical movement, colour, and scale to express themes of strength, endurance, and spiritual authority. Each piece is created through a fast, focused process where intuition leads. I allow the painting to emerge rather than forcing a fixed outcome, leaving evidence of movement, layering, and decision-making visible. This approach reflects my belief that truth is often revealed through action, not over-refinement.
My work is deeply connected to ideas of identity, resilience, and spiritual presence. Rather than telling a story, the paintings are designed to create an atmosphere; one that invites reflection, stillness, and inner recognition. I see painting as both a creative and revelatory act. The goal is not perfection, but honesty: to make work that carries weight, presence, and clarity, and that allows viewers to encounter strength within themselves as they engage with the piece.
Lucy Tedder
Lucy Tedder is a Canberra based artist specialising in painting and works on paper. Her typical themes include the urban landscape, still life and other scenes of the everyday which she brings to life in hyper-colour.
Robert Vine
Robert Vine is an accomplished Landscape Photographer with over 20 years experience exploring and creating art with cameras. His images bring the beauty of the natural environment into many homes across Australia and have been displayed prominently in government buildings, including the office of the Chief of the Air Force. 90 images from his service in Afghanistan are a part of the National Collection of the Australian War Memorial.
“Landscape photography is possibly the most difficult form of art, you have control of so few variables and to capture a scene you might need to go to some unforgiving locations at strange times of the day and brave awful weather conditions. And after all that you might not be able to create a good image.”
Anthea Kerrison - Solid Rocks Jewellery Designs
The idea behind Solid Rocks is budget-friendly jewellery that is still showcasing real stones: semi-precious gemstones, rocks, pearls, shell, real things not resin costume jewellery. And affordable.
Each piece is carefully designed, as that is why I do it, for the enjoyment of playing with interesting stones and pearls, and seeing what happens with each parcel of objects.
Most of the pearls and rocks come from the big gem fair in Salt Lake City, Utah, every winter.
I buy the other ingredients mostly from local Australian suppliers, and anything I can't find locally gets ordered from China.
I sell at very select markets around the ACT Region also.
Jennifer Adams - Popcorn Art
I am a local Canberra artist and I have been exhibiting in Canberra as part of a group (the Tin Shed Art Group) for more than 12 years in galleries such as M16, ANCA and Belconnen Arts Centre. I recently held a solo exhibition at the Generator Gallery at the Belconnen Arts Centre - my first solo in over 10 years! I love painting with bright colours and not following any rules - just in a spirit of creativity.
In early 2025 I decided to sell Giclee prints of my artwork as well as originals, and hence my business Popcorn Art was established. I am currently starting to run workshops in Canberra as well.
Kiran Mehta
Kiran's art embodies a tapestry of colours, emotions, and resilience. Kiran's art exudes a contemporary impressionistic flair, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking vistas of Australia's landscapes. Infused with texture, organic marks, and poignant affirmations, each piece is a testament to her reverence for nature's beauty. Through luminous colours and expressive brushstrokes, Kiran invites viewers on a spiritual journey, enveloping them in the same joy and warmth she experiences in each stroke of the brush.
Utilising a myriad of mediums, including acrylics, oil pastels, charcoal, and inks, Kiran's creative process is a symphony of intuition and exploration. With each canvas, she embarks on a playful dance of colours, alternating between mark making and acrylics until the final image emerges, a testament to her unwavering spirit and boundless creativity.
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Ludmilla Braguina - LIGHT Studio
Ludmilla is an emerging Canberra-based artist specialising in the creation of interior textile acrylic paintings for homes, offices and public spaces.
Born in Chisinau, she travelled the world as a dancer, introducing the colourful culture of Moldova to people from all walks of life. After completion of several courses at the School of Interior Artists and the International School of Modern Creative Art, Ludmilla concentrated on the creation of colourful canvases using the mixed media techniques of textile acrylic and liquid acrylic painting.
The creative painting process brings Ludmilla a great deal of joy. Her inner intention is to spread the energy of colourful mystical positivity through the environment where the paintings will be presented.
Ruth Dodd
Ruth studied interior design at the National Art School East Sydney then practiced as an interior designer before moving into the field of cartography at the Division of National Mapping, now Geoscience Australia. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours List for, ‘her contribution to major national mapping and atlas programs’. On retirement Ruth and her husband moved to a 9.5 ha lot in the Yass Valley in the NSW Southern Highlands.
"My work has been influenced by the dry sclerophyll forests, the natural and agricultural grasslands. Our acreage is a source of wonder with a large number of birds and animals which provide many hours of enjoyment and inspiration. My genre is representational art and I work from close observation of a subject and use colour to dramatise what I see and feel to be its essential elements."
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Lakshmi Muthupalaniyappan - Banana Island Escape
coming soon...
Dee Hopkins
Dee is a graduate of CIT’s Diploma of Visual Arts. She is a contemporary, experimental artist with a keen interest in abstract and impressionism. She works from her art studio – Allambee Art Studio and Little Gallery in Jerrabomberra. In her workshop, Discover the magic of Gel Printing, she will give an introduction to gel plate, how to apply stencils, organic materials, registration tricks and more to create stunning multi layered artwork. Each participant will create at least one work to bring home and frame.
Anne Tassie
Anne Tassie comes from a science and arts background, with a strong interest in the environment.
Anne has worked in the field of plant science for many years and is a Visual Arts graduate of Adelaide Central School of Art (1997) and UniSA (2006).
Her work is a personal response to the environment and is inspired by walking through and making simple observations in a diverse range of landscapes.
Patterns in the landscape, geological and evolutionary time provide inspiration.
Heads 'n' Spaces - Art By Clare
I have been creating my doodle art since 2018, due to my brain trying to calm down. By 2022 I had a full breakdown and it's now know as My Whacky Weekend with ACT Mental health Unit". By 2023 my persistent friend finally wore me down after two years of "You should sell your art" and I went for it and booked my first market stall at the Old Bus Depot Market, Kingston. That's just over two years ago; taking me till August 2023 to become a permanent stall holder. So there you will find me, every Sunday, showing my mental health art. Talking about my process. But most importantly, talking to people about mental health. I'm not qualified professionally to help. The way I help is telling people of my experience, and letting themselves have that moment to let themselves have their moment. I do guide people in how to approach their doctors, for help, that's if they talk to me about it. So it's not all about the art. But the art helps me. It stops the "Hum in the Drum"
Marko Jovas
Marko Jovas - Architect and Artist. Born in Cacak, Serbia in 1971. Serbian and Australian citizen. Graduated at the University of Architecture in Belgrade in 1999. He has been painting since 1995. He belongs to the artists who "still paints".
His paintings stick slightly to the side, from the current trends of our time. Security and clarity of his language, among other things, comes from fidelity to human form and figuration. Precise language, the classical technique of oil on board or canvas, layered, multi tone in the dim light of the old gold, Marko creates scenes of tranquillity and serenity. Lives and works in Sydney, Australia.
Julia Norton
Julia is a landscape painter living and working in Sydney. American Born, she worked in Fashion Design in NYC before moving to Willoughby in 2012.
She explores the complex emotional landscape of mothering her children into adulthood. The passing of clouds serves as a powerful metaphor for this transition of dependence to independence. The clouds represent the uncertainty and unpredictability of this transition; they shift and change reflecting feelings of joy, nostalgia, fear, and hope that accompany this letting go.
Margaret Hadfield
Margaret Hadfield-Zorgdrager has been working as a professional artist in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region for 30 yrs. Margaret paints in all mediums and her major works have featured in numerous art awards including Paddington Art Prize, Portia Geach Art Prize, Gallipoli Art Prize and Fishers Ghost Art Prize.
Margaret won the 2006 Inaugural Gallipoli Art Prize and 6 of her military themed works have been exhibited by the Australian Government in the Netherlands, Turkey and France. The Gallipoli Series which are around 24 pieces have been exhibited in Griffith Regional Gallery, The Q Queanbeyan , Singleton Library and Corowa Civic Gallery.
Margaret's portraits include -Singer Helen Reddy, Australian of the year Professor Fiona Wood, basketballer Lauren Jackson, Elder Matilda House, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Geraldine Cox - all painted from life.
Caroline Jeppesen
Caroline Jeppesen is a Canberra-based artist and art teacher. Caroline works mainly in oils, but teaches a range of mediums.
"I love that I can share my passion with others. Now more than ever, people are wanting to spend time on activities that nourish their mind and tap into a creative side. Art is a truly human endeavour, it brings people together, encourages connection, and brings joy. In my own work, I find great calm in reflecting the beauty of our world: the magic of a sunset or a delicate flower."
