I am an Australian artist known for my evocative landscapes, miniature paintings, and detailed still lifes. My painting journey began in 2005 when I discovered a passion for pastels, later expanding my repertoire to include acrylics and oils. While largely self-taught, I have honed my skills through art courses and membership of the Childers Visual Arts Group.
Before my painting career, I was deeply involved in fabric arts, including teaching patchwork quilting for a decade in Sydney and Brisbane. This background in textiles has influenced my meticulous approach to detail and composition in my artworks.
In 2018, I embraced miniature painting, creating a series titled "Childers Bits," for a combined exhibition with local artists. This was followed by several other miniature exhibitions, the latest being “Little Darlings” which aimed to evoke nostalgia and memories of my family's heritage in the "Darling Downs" region of Queensland. This exhibition was held at Crows Nest Gallery, a branch of the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. My miniatures, usually measuring just 6.4 x 8.9 cm, showcase my technical skill and attention to detail.
My works are held in private collections across Australia and internationally. My studio is located in North Isis, Queensland, where I continue to create and accept commissions.
For more information or to view my portfolio, visit my official website: marilynmurray.com.au.
Artist Statement
I create works that reflect the natural beauty, heritage, and intimate textures of life in regional Australia. My art is rooted in realism with a touch of nostalgia, expressed through landscapes, still lifes, and miniatures. Drawing from a background in textiles, my compositions are detailed and thoughtfully constructed, aiming to evoke memory, warmth, and connection to place.
2021 – “Memories in Miniature” – 102 framed artworks - 6.4 cm x 8.9 cm - Gatakers Arts Space, Maryborough.
This exhibition showcased the many places, birds and animals I have seen in my travels in and around Australia. It also featured many still life paintings of my collection of antique crockery and tableware. This exhibition was subsequently travelled to Gin Gin Regional Art Gallery and Wondai Art Gallery in 2022.
2022 – “Meeting History in Miniature” – 100 framed artworks – 6.4 cm x 8.9 cm – Childers Arts Space (CHARTS), a branch of Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG).
This exhibition explored the many meeting places which can be found in south east Queensland. These included churches, community halls, picture theatres etc. This exhibition was later travelled to Maryborough Arts Centre in a revised format.
2023 – “Miniaturised Maryborough” – 36 framed artworks – 10 cm x 10 cm – Gatakers Arts Space, Maryborough.
I chose Maryborough as the focus of this exhibition because of the incredible history of the town. It is literally a smorgasbord of inspiration.
2024 – “Little Darlings” – 44 framed artworks – 6.4 cm x 8.9 cm – Crows Nest Gallery, a branch of Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (TRAG).
The name “Little Darlings” relates to the size of the paintings and the subject matter, the Darling Downs. My aim was to “jog memories” and evoke emotions of those memories with my depictions of places and scenes around the “Downs” which was where I and most of my family were born.