Art Stories from Day Gallery Blackheath
Dive into the Stories behind the Art at Day Gallery. From the inspirations behind BK Ku’s textured landscapes and Johnny K’s bold Australian landscapes to the community impact of Claire Nakazawa’s bushfire mural, our stories bring you closer to the artists and their works.
Visit us in the Gallery or enquire online to learn more or commission a piece.
Winning Artwork ‘A Question of Timing’ by Blue Mountains artist Anthony Cahill
The Calleen Art Prize Winner Announced
Over 400 entries were received but Sydney based-artist Anthony Cahill has beaten out the competition taking the
Words: Kaitlin Stewart
A panel of industry experts filtered through an overwhelming response of 401 entries, carefully selecting 56 finalists for the Calleen Art Prize. This year’s panel included Georgia Connolly, Head of Regional Engagement, Access and Learning at the Art Gallery of New South Wales; Bridget Guthrie, Director, Tamworth Regional Gallery & Museums and John Cheeseman, Partner, Interchange Art Projects.
Over the last 49 years, The Calleen Art Prize has been pivotal in showcasing the best of Australian contemporary art. The prize was founded by Cowra Art patron Patricia Fagan with the support of the Calleen Trust. Their aim was to foster the unique voices of emerging artists all around Australia. There is no defined theme or subject required in order to enter the prize which allows a high level of individuality as artists have the freedom to showcase their signature work. The prize is exhibited annually at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery in New South Wales and has quickly become a crowd favourite.
Announced by Georgia Connolly at the exhibition opening on Saturday 5 September, Anthony Cahill was awarded the winning prize of $30,000. Based in Sydney, Cahill is represented by Day Gallery and teaches at the National Art School. As an individual not bound to a specific genre, Cahill’s paintings capture the childlike essence of focusing on the absurdity of everyday life. Beginning with a memory or photograph, Cahill’s work expands naturally as his imagination runs wild. The viewer is confronted with an extraordinary scene which feels both familiar and uncanny. As a master of non-conformity, is it no surprise Anthony Cahill was awarded the winning prize for his thought-provoking painting A Question of Timing. This artwork will become a permanent fixture in the Calleen Collection at Cowra Regional Art Gallery.
Alongside the winner, a highly commended badge was awarded to four artworks by Jane Tonks, Sarah Waghorn, Michael Simms and Leah Thiessen.
Visitors to the gallery will be able to vote for their favourite artwork as the Calleen People’s Choice Award is announced at the close of the exhibition. The winner will be awarded a prize of $1,000. The Calleen Art Prize will be on display at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery from 6 September – 18 October. Free Entry.
September 11, 2026
ART COLLECTOR
Inaugural Hill Painting Prize winner announced
11 Aug 2026
Jane Canfield has been awarded the inaugural Hill Painting Prize for their entry Hillside (2026), selected from a field of outstanding entries celebrating the natural landscapes, urban spaces and built environments of the Blue Mountains through the medium of painting.
Jane Canfield is a Blue Mountains-based artist known for her pared-back, semi-abstract landscapes that capture the mood, light and structure of both urban and rural environments.
The winning work is one of 66 finalist artworks featured in the inaugural Hill Painting Prize exhibition, on display at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre from 8 August to 20 September. The exhibition connects audiences to the iconic views, romanticised scenes and contemporary interpretations unique to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Established through the generosity of Blue Mountains artist and benefactor David R Hill, the non-acquisitive biennial prize celebrates excellence in painting and honours Hill's lifelong commitment to the medium.
The strong local response to the inaugural prize reflects the Blue Mountains' thriving creative community, with 70 per cent of entrants residing within the Blue Mountains Local Government Area. Of the 66 finalists selected for exhibition, 62 per cent live within the Blue Mountains LGA and 65 per cent are women.
The Hill Painting Prize includes three awards: the Overall Winner, Artist's Choice Award and People's Choice Award, with a total prize pool of $12,000. Visitors are encouraged to cast their vote for the People's Choice Award throughout the exhibition, providing an opportunity for the community to recognise and celebrate their favourite work.
The finalists and winner were selected by an esteemed judging panel comprising of benefactor David R Hill, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre curator Hayley Zena Poynton, Joanna Gilmour, Acting Director of Penrith Regional Gallery and Dr David Eastwood, artist, academic and Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts at UNSW Art & Design.
The judges were drawn to Jane’s Canfield’s expressive interpretation of Katoomba rooftops, which is both semi-abstracted but instantly evocative of its subject. They were also impressed by the light touch of the artist’s paint handling, which demonstrates clear confidence in materials and technique.
Blue Mountains City Council Mayor, Mark Greenhill welcomed the exhibition and congratulated the prize winner and finalists.
"We are delighted to host the inaugural Hill Painting Prize at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and extend our sincere thanks to David Hill for his vision and generosity in establishing this significant new award,” Cr Greenhill said.
"It is particularly pleasing to see the strong participation from our local arts community, this exhibition reinforces our region's reputation as a leading centre for arts and cultural practice and provides a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors alike to engage with contemporary Australian painting.”
Photo: Joanna Gilmour, Hayley Zena Poynton and Dr David Eastwood in front of the winning work.
BMCC
Opening speech by Blue Mountains City Mayor Mark Greenhill
Speech by artist David Hill
Winning artwork by Jane Canfield
Johnny K’s Plein Air Journey for ‘Where Birds Soar’
Follow Johnny K as he paints plein air for his upcoming solo show Where Birds Soar. His bold Australian landscapes, created with vibrant Fluro colours, capture the untamed beauty of the Blue Mountains. Explore the exhibition catalogue online and enquire to add Johnny K’s contemporary artworks to your collection.
Film by Kin Things
Jane Canfield’s Profile and Artistic Inspiration
Jane Canfield shares her artistic vision: ‘I try to pare back what I see. The subtleties of colour in the landscape, the shapes produced in nature, and the peace and calm I feel when in nature are all in there.’ Discover Jane’s serene works at Day Gallery Blackheath and enquire online to explore her collection.
Film by KinThings
Olivia Shimeld | Artist Profile | Art Edit Magazine Issue 27
Olivia Shimeld’s work is featured in Art Edit Magazine Issue 27, showcasing her Order Out of Disorder series. Her art explores the chaos and beauty of the natural world, as seen in her current pieces available at Day Gallery.
View her latest works online and enquire to bring Olivia’s thought-provoking art into your collection.
Claire Nakazawa’s vibrant New Mural for Blackheath
Thank-you to @clairenakazawa for the amazing mural. @elgustoyo for music and @kingthings for the rad video!
Renowned Blackheath painter and electro, pop, punk artist Claire Nakazawa has transformed the corner of Wentworth and Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath with a painted mural that is distinctly Blackheath.
The mural is located on the Wentworth Street side of The Kenmare Buildings, also where Day Gallery is situated. The Blackheath Summer fires left a lasting impact on the bush and our community. The mural depicts charred trees with re-growth and strong colours in the background, showcasing Claire’s distinct style.
When COVID 19 first hit Australia and we were all faced with the reality of its impact on our work and social lives, painter and performing artist Claire Nakazawa could no longer tour with her band Haiku Hands so she returned to live in the Blue Mountains where she grew up.
Based in Blackheath, Claire found herself surrounded by burnt regenerating bushland from the 2019/2020 bushfires. This influenced Claire to paint the mural with strong, bold colours, combining abstraction and landscape in order to leave a lasting impression for the side of Day Gallery, Blackheath and visitors.
Gallery owner Helen Day said she is thrilled with the mural, ‘for me what Claire has chosen to paint on the side of our building is not only beautiful and colourful but also strikes a cord with what we have all been through with the bushfires and now seeing the after effects and regrowth’. Helen hopes that this mural will also bring some colour and joy to Blackheath while we all learn to navigate this time which is now COVID 19.
Rowen Matthews featured on The Mix, ABC iView
Congratulations to Rowen Matthews for being featured in the current episode of The Mix. Now available to watch on ABC iview.
The bold regional gallery pushing one artist's work through the pandemic.
Liverpool Plains artist showcases 'Land is emotional' in Tamworth Regional Gallery's first online exhibition
"These paintings are a record of the conversation between this place and my survival here," says Liverpool Plains artist Dr Rowen Matthews.
His evocative exhibition Land is Emotional captures the essence of the connection between a farmer and his land, pondering the phrase: 'land is an emotional subject for farmers'.
Join Jane Canfield for a virtual tour of her current exhibition, TONAL. April 2020
Exhibition Now Open - Virtual Viewing To Come! | Land is Emotional | Tamworth Regional Gallery | Rowen Matthews
Keep an eye on the Tamworth Regional Gallery website. Over the next few months there will be lots of virtual tours from Rowen’s show.
Rowen Matthews | Tamworth Regional Gallery
28th March - 24th May 2020
Land is Emotional | 28th March - 24th May 2020
Rowen Matthews
Studio shot of the last three works painted for Land is Emotional. The show will be at Tamworth Regional Gallery for two months from 27th March. (image courtesy of Rowen Matthews)
BLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTRE ACQUISITION | ROWEN MATTHEWS ARTWORK
Our little rule breaker, lol.