Self Portrait at the Avalon Katoomba

Why Paint Katoomba

If only the streets of Katoomba could talk, the stories they could tell.

Katoomba is full of artists, actors, entertainers, musicians, and eccentrics.

Katoomba, with its sloping streets, little hidden laneways and stairs, and occasional snow.

Katoomba, with its awesome guest houses and hotels like the Carrington or the Mountain Heritage.

Lillianfels, Hotel Blue, from a time when Katoomba was a honeymoon mecca.

Katoomba still has a romantic feel.

The great cafes like the Paragon, which is being restored, and the Avalon Cabaret Restaurant.

The Yellow Deli, Aunty Ed's (now ‘The Vault’), and my favourite bohemian cafe, the Elephant Bean.

Katoomba and its scruffy streets, gardens of weeds, but so pretty, so much character. You come one and a half hours' drive from Sydney, you come to a different world, a better world, a bohemian world of Katoomba.

This is my eleventh exhibition.

I went to Julian Ashton's Art School for three years full-time.