Midnight at the tavern

Inspired by a night out at the Mad cow in Townsville, this work draws from a fleeting moment captured from a DJ booth. Bathed in neon light and movement, it reflects the energy and spontaneity of youth -- the nights, the moments that often become memories before we realise their significance. Through softened form and shifting colour, the work explores how youth is remembered: vivid, imperfect, and full of feeling

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Hayley Wellins is a Townsville-based artist and final-year Veterinary Science student. Working primarily in oil paint, her practice explores connection, place, and the relationships between people and animals. Influenced by experiences across regional Queensland, veterinary life, and everyday moments that often go unnoticed, her work often draws from rural environments and the stories held within them.

Alongside her veterinary studies, Hayley has continued building a growing exhibition record, with works selected as finalists in the John Villiers Outback Art Prize, Percival Animal Portrait Prize and Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prize. In 2026, her work received a Highly Commended award at the John Villiers Outback Art Prize. Through her practice, Hayley aims to create work that captures familiar moments and invites viewers to find meaning within the ordinary.