Little Austi

This painting was inspired by a photograph I took from the Headlands Hotel, overlooking Little Austinmer Beach on the beautiful NSW South Coast. I was captivated by the elevated vantage point, where the winding shoreline, turquoise water and rolling escarpment come together to create one of my favourite local views.

One of the things I love most about this location is the sense of life it holds. The resident bunnies can often be seen hopping through the grassy dunes, adding a quiet charm to the landscape, while the beach below invites long, peaceful days by the ocean. As with many of my coastal paintings, I’ve included my striped beach towel—a small personal detail that has become a signature within my work, representing cherished family beach days and the memories made along our coastline.

I hope this artwork brings a sense of calm and escape into a home. Its soft coastal palette, sweeping perspective and familiar Australian shoreline create a peaceful focal point, inviting the viewer to pause and imagine themselves standing among the dunes, breathing in the fresh sea air and taking in the beauty of the South Coast.

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Based on the South Coast of New South Wales, Rebecca Callaghan is a self-taught artist whose work captures the raw beauty and ever-changing mood of Australia’s wild coastline. Working primarily in oil on canvas, she paints the beaches and headlands that surround her daily life—places shaped by wind, salt, and shifting light.

Rebecca’s artistic journey began with pencil drawing, a foundation that continues to influence the structure and detail within her paintings today. Without formal training, she has developed a style that is both intuitive and deeply personal, guided by observation, memory, and a strong connection to place.

As a mother and wife, much of Rebecca’s life has been devoted to raising her family. Now, in a new chapter, she has returned to her lifelong love of art with renewed focus and passion. Her work reflects not only the landscapes she paints, but also a sense of rediscovery—of time, identity, and creativity.

Through textured brushwork and a natural coastal palette, Rebecca’s paintings aim to evoke the feeling of standing at the edge of the ocean—where land meets sea and everything is in motion. Her pieces invite viewers to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the quiet power of the natural world.