The Portland Art Exhibition is held each year during the first weekend in March at the historic Crystal Theatre and attracts visitors from hundreds of kilometres away, including increasing numbers of buyers from Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange. The event is now the largest art exhibition west of Sydney and hanging space is keenly contested.

Phone: 02 6337 5120
Website: www.mikecoombe.com.au

Using a unique and rare rotating lens panorama camera Mike has set out to create arty images of many of Australian landmarks. Mike captures Australia’s unique beach culture, rural life and icons in a way that no other photographer does.

Mike was born in the UK, studied at the Plymouth college of Fine Arts and immigrated to Australia in 1981. Currently working from a tranquil studio in the World Heritage Blue Mountains, Mike has left the world of commercial photography to pursue his passion. That passion is to create a range of unique images, which strike an emotional resonance within the viewer. Together with his partner Karin, they have developed this range into one of Australia’s most recognizable affordable art collections. Mike conducts photographic workshops through Charles Sturt University.

All the images are available as handmade cards and fine art mounted photographs in three different sizes. Individual collections can be created by placing three photographs into a triple mount.

Phone/Fax: 02 6337 5827
Email: mlaroche@internode.on.net

There’s a breath of French air in Tarana when established artist, designer & illustrator, Sandra Laroche, opens her delightful studio in Tarana most weekends, 10am to 5.30ish, or by appointment, to exhibit her own & friends’ artwork including detailed watercolour & gouache paintings, fine-art prints, cards, decorative pieces, ceramics, textiles, original book illustrations & studies.

Sandra has illustrated over two dozen books for children including ‘Capturing the Golden Bird’ by Jean Chapman, ‘The Snow Rose’ &’ The Mushroom Feast’, both by her husband Michel Laroche, & Ethel Turner's classic Seven Little Australians. This latter project took eight months to research and complete. Aboard Endeavour, written by Bruce Stannard, was launched on the decks of the Endeavour Replica, moored at the time alongside the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney in 1995.

Three Art Galleries featuring local Artists - an eclectic selection of traditional art, ceramics, sculpture, pottery, photography and glass work, and Arts and Crafts