Artists Vanessa Newell and Jo Ernst display their newest creations

“This exhibition came about due to a shared interest in depicting people and the places they inhabit. Jo’s works are masterful examples of figurative drawings and paintings together with works depicting her local landscape. My own paintings explore people working, playing and enjoying the leisure, portrayed in a colourful, expressionistic style,” Vanessa said of ‘People and Places’.

Vanessa Newell grew up in Sydney and studied Landscape Architecture at the University of New South Wales, working as a landscape architect and urban designer in local government for over twenty years. Since relocating to the Mid North Coast several years ago she has been focusing on her life-long passion for art and is now beginning to gain recognition as a successful emerging artist. Vanessa is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Fine Art and Visual Culture at Curtin University.

Jo Ernst is a mid-career artist living and working in the Manning Valley. After completing a three-year dress design course at East Sydney Technical College in 1980 Jo worked as a couturier designer for 18 years. This was overlapped by studies in fine art in France with Ted Seth Jacobs, a tutor from the Art Students’ League, New York. After a further three years at Paddington Art School, Sydney, Jo embarked on a career as a visual artist and teacher.  

‘People and Places’ is showing at Long Point Vineyard and Art Gallery until July 31, Tuesdays to Sundays 10am to 5pm. Find the vineyard and gallery at 6 Cooinda Place, turn off on Houston Mitchell Drive, Lake Cathie.