Experience a taste of this year’s Surf Coast Arts Trail

ARTISTS participating in this year’s Surf Coat Arts Trail will have their works showcased next weekend with a preview of the event.On the Trail: A Creative Taster will begin on May 15 and run until June 1 at the Angelsea Art Space featuring works from around 60 artists, including photography and sculpture through to ceramics, jewellery and more.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Libby Stapleton said the preview is an opportunity for the community to view some of the works from the pool of artists across the Surf Coast.

“It’s a fantastic lead in event to the popular Arts Trail weekend, which last year attracted more than 16,000 visitors from around Australia,” she said.

The Arts Trail is an annual event, a celebration of the Surf Coast’s creativity, where artists and creatives open their studios, workspaces and galleries to visitors.

Jan Juc landscape artist Andrew Middlehurst is displaying a new technique of his Woven series of works.

“I’m an impressionist landscape artist who has taken what I’ve learned over the years to push the boundaries in landscape painting to a point where I’ve broken all the rules and put them back together one brushstroke at a time,” he said.

 

“I’ve used a process of repeated vertical brushstrokes and layering of acrylic colour to create something very different.

“It takes me twice as long as my usual impressionist pieces; there are so many decisions to make, and it is extremely challenging.”

Middlehurts’ work is inspired by the landscapes of the Surf Coast, his favourite spots including Jan Juc Beach, Bird Rock, Bells Beach, Point Addis, and Bellbrae’s rolling hills.

The local encouraged people to head along to the Taster Show to get a sense of what is coming up for the Arts Trail.

“If you haven’t tried it, it really is a must see,” he said.

“So many people are involved, it’s part of the culture down here.

“It’s a great opportunity to see what’s new or what your favourite artists have been working on.”

The 2025 Surf Coast Arts Trail will run from August 2 until August 3.

For more information on the taster and the Arts Trail, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au