Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9

Accessible Art   —  Affordable Art Exhibition

Published 30 April 2026

Beautiful art is within reach. Make a diary note for Handmark’s Affordable Art Exhibition which showcases a curated selection of works by leading artists – and each priced under $5,000.
 
“Our mission is to make art accessible,” Handmark Director Allanah Dopson explains. “The Affordable Art Exhibition presents the ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to buy the first piece of art for their collection. This is the perfect chance to secure an original work by one of Tasmania’s top artists.”
 
All your favourite Handmark artists – including Junko Go, David Edgar, Peter Gouldthorpe, John Lendis, Sebastian Galloway and Luke Wagner – will be taking part in the exhibition. And in most cases, they will be presenting new works that have been created especially for the show.
 
You will also be delighted to know that every work purchased will be eligible for the Government’s Art Collect Scheme. In addition, the Tax Department is still giving a 100% write-off to any business who buys art to the value of $7,500. This creates a compelling moment to invest in art. Or, at the least take the chance to view the catalogue and see what’s on offer!
 
Handmark’s Affordable Art exhibition will run at the Gallery from May 22 until June 15.

rodney alexander – diaphanous

Published 30 April 2026

The beauty of Bach weaves through the luminous new paintings in Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition – his first Handmark showing.
 
In Bach’s Partita, the delicate sounds of a solo violin float through the air. This is Rodney’s touchstone – but he replaces notes with layer upon layer of gossamer form, seemingly suspended in space. Set against an inky backdrop, these take on an otherworld luminosity: “I’m chasing the effect of light filtering through silk, or perhaps a petal. That soft, shifting glow as it bends around delicate forms,” Rodney explains.
 
The striking Tessuto, is one of Rodney’s large-scale oils on linen. Whisper-thin material in vibrant rainbow tones, billows in the ether. Three months in the making, the detail is extraordinary. But it’s the illumination that truly defines Rodney’s work. He uses translucent oil glazes, layering fine veils of colour so that light can penetrate and scatter between them.
 
A professional musician before turning his talents to art, it’s no surprise that Rodney brings a quiet lyricism to his practice. “Bach’s genius was creating the illusion of harmony within a single melodic line. This inspired me to create the illusion of three dimensions – even though I am only working on a two-dimensional surface.”
 
Rodney Alexander’s Diaphanous exhibition opens at Handmark on May 1 and runs until May 18

Artist’s Book Award  —  Olivia Moroney – Midlands Marvel

Published 30 April 2026

At just 34, Handmark artist Olivia Moroney has achieved a lifelong ambition: to have work in a prestigious Victorian collection alongside her heroine, pioneering printmaker, Jessica Traill.
 
“I just screamed,” Olivia says, recalling the moment she heard the news. Her artist’s book, 12 Months in the Midlands, had just been awarded the Fire Station Print Prize for Craftsmanship. And, most thrillingly, it has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria for a collection that includes works by Jessica Traill, one of Australia’s most significant print makers. “I am blown away that my artist’s book will be in the same room as works by Jessica.”
 
Olivia’s concertina artist’s book features drypoint etchings of 12 trees captured over the course of a year on her family property in the Southern Midlands. Rendered in black, the prints trace the seasonal rhythms. Each page holds a single tree as the months move from “winter’s starkness into spring’s promise, a dry and dusty summer and autumn’s turn of leaves.”
 
The judges praised Olivia’s work for its quiet, yet powerful, narrative: “A meditation in the form of trees across time, which is revealed as the concertina pages slowly turn.”

may newsletter ―

Published 30 April 2026

We are excited. This Friday acclaimed abstract painter, Rodney Alexander, unveils his inaugural Handmark exhibition, Diaphanous. An accomplished musician, Rodney fills his art with a luminous lyricism.
 
Rodney is also a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize, to be announced in early June. Congratulations to Nick Glade-Wright who also made the final cut. And, read on for exciting news about Oliva Moroney.
 
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have taken delivery of gorgeous ceramic jugs by Dawn Oakford, along with exquisite jewellery which, despite cost hikes in gold and silver, is still available at pre-Gulf War prices!

Allanah Dopson
Director

april newsletter ―

Published 1 April 2026

Excitement is building around Easter, and also around our upcoming exhibition, Botanica Maxima. This is a striking collection of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick that explores the quiet grandeur of nature. You won’t want to miss it.

Meanwhile, there is still time to catch our current exhibitions, which have captivated audiences. People queued for days before the opening of Island Matters by Michael McWilliams, and this extraordinary exhibition closes next week. We are closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday but will be open this Saturday as usual plus Easter Monday 11am – 4pm.

The haunting landscapes by the talented John Lendis are also on display at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale until April 13.

We congratulate two of our talented artists, Melissa Smith and Heidi Woodhead who have just been announced as finalists in the Omnia Prize in Melbourne which is being announced on May 22. Good luck!

From all the team at Handmark, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Easter, and hope you can join us Friday week to celebrate the opening of Anna Fitzpatrick’s wonderful Botanica Maxima.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

Upcoming Exhibition — Anna Fitzpatrick – Botanica Maxima

Published 1 April 2026

Botanica Maxima, the exhibition of new paintings by Anna Fitzpatrick, explores the quiet grandeur of nature through two interwoven bodies of work. Growing up amongst bushland, native flora was a defining touchstone for Anna, and it continues to inform her practice.

Anna presents a beautiful series of oil paintings that pay homage to the banksia. “I love their dramatic sculptural form,” she explains. “But banksia also symbolise the Australian ethos—resilient through fire, flood, and drought.” Anna sets her banksia against a midnight-blue backdrop, which imbues them with depth and glowing drama. A gold leaf moon keeps watch. “I see this as a counterpoint to the botanical form. It adds a quiet, luminous presence.”

A second collection of paintings transports us to the Tasman Peninsula, where Anna draws on memories of a hike along the Three Capes Track with her parents and young daughters. To capture the sweeping vistas, these paintings are all large-scale. “This was the only way to fully embrace the remote and cinematic coastline spread out before us.”

In Beyond the Headland, we are immersed in a primal vista. As the sun rises, sea and sky merge in soft tones of pink and mauve. Jagged cliffs swoop down to the sea, while the foreground glows with a vibrant tapestry of flora, subtly infused with gold and rich red. An old, twisted banksia stands firm. “Entering this landscape felt like stepping beyond the present and into something ancient and enduring.”

Anna Fitzpatrick’s Botanica Maxima exhibition will open at Handmark on April 10 and run until April 27.

march newsletter ―

Published 10 March 2026

Thank you to all those who ventured to see our John Lendis exhibition at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale, and also take in the Glover Prize, where two of our artists, Luke Wagner and Peter Gouldthorpe’s works shone among the other 40 finalists.

Both exhibitions are open all week and the weekends are always a buzz.

Get ready for Michael mania, a preview will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
This Friday we unveil an exceptional exhibition of new paintings by Michael McWilliams, and if past events are any indication, expect an eventful few days! The scenes outside Handmark for Michael’s last exhibition, were astounding. We had Michael enthusiasts camped outside the Gallery overnight in the hopes of securing a painting.
To keep it fair there are no pre-sales, and doors will open at 9am on Friday 13 March.

But if a Michael McWilliams eludes you, we have other treasures to discover. Jeweller Barbara Heath will present a selection of stunning new pieces that sit beautifully alongside the paintings of her longtime friend, Michael.

Take care,

Allanah Dopson
Director

new jewellery: barbara heath

Published 10 March 2026

Barbara Heath’s jewellery is treasured as wearable art, and her chain mesh necklaces – each one unique and painstaking in its construction – are among the most coveted pieces. Barbara will unveil her latest collection during the Michael McWilliams exhibition.

Barbara is delighted to be supporting Michael, a friend of more than 20 years. They first connected through a shared loved of antiquities: “Chain mesh is an ancient technique that was developed for armour. The complexity and finesse of the process seemed the perfect complement to the beautiful finesse of Michael’s paintings, which are also steeped in history,” Barbara explains.

Each fine chain mesh necklace takes Barbara around a week to create. Every piece crafted from some 750 hand-rolled links. A complex and time-intensive process. Yet, these wearable works of art, not only look incredible, they feel incredible also. “Chain mesh is so lovely to wear. It is fully collapsible and comes to life when worn. The mesh is fluid and moves like a slinky on the body.”

Barbara will present six new necklaces. Crafted from 9ct gold and oxidised silver, one striking piece is even sprinkled with gems. “This is something special. I haven’t done an expanded collection for Handmark for some time. It is also wonderful to be supporting the new paintings of our friend, Michael.”

february newsletter ―

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner has been busy. This Friday he unveils Rhyming Couplets, a solo exhibition of extraordinary landscape paintings based around Brickenden Estate, Longford. We are thrilled to be welcoming Louise Archer and family from Brickenden Estate to open the exhibition.
Luke has also been selected as a Glover Prize finalist. Also making the cut is fellow Handmark painter, Peter Gouldthorpe. Congratulations to both.

As always, Handmark has a huge Glover weekend planned – and this year is no exception. Mark it in your diary and read on for details.

Finally, Kudos to abstract painter Jeewan Suwal who has been nominated by QVMAG as one of Tasmania’s most exciting emerging artists.

Allanah Dopson
Director

exhibition — luke wagner: rhyming couplets

Published 1 February 2026

Luke Wagner revisits his beloved Norfolk Plains and returns with transcendent paintings of sublime beauty. Arguably, the new landscapes in his Rhyming Couplets exhibition are among Luke’s best works.

The countryside around Brickenden Estate, in the Northern Midlands, is a magnet for Luke. A place he has painted many times. “I like the idea of repetition,” he tells us. “Every time the land reveals a different face. Different light, different perception and a different season.” The verdant greens of spring, and a late summer palette of red and ochre come to life in his latest collection.

Luke’s oils on linen are not loud, “they whisper and carry a quiet, considered social dimension. I try to evoke, rather than tell.” His agricultural landscapes draw attention to places long shaped by human use. “These are lived-in, worked environments that carry histories of Aboriginal custodianship, colonisation, and ongoing rural life.”

In the lush spring tableau, Light Insists, Dark Replies, Neither Wins, we sense “people have been here for many generations” with a majestic bunya tree holding court over a dense grove of foliage. In the ethereal, Questioning Voices, we gaze across the Macquarie River as light fades over the sweeping vista. “This whispers the history of all the people who have been here before us.”

Luke Wagner’s Rhyming Couplet Exhibition opens at Handmark this Friday and runs until March 9