Follow the Trail at Open Studios Sunshine Coast
Ever wanted to catch an artist in their element? Jodie Cameron discovers how to make the most of Open Studios Sunshine Coast…
The Sunshine Coast is home to one of the largest creative communities in Australia. Drawn to the natural beauty of the region, makers specialising in everything from painting and pottery to sculpting and glasswork live and work across the area. This Winter, from 17 to 26 July the artists of Open Studios Sunshine Coast are opening their creative spaces to the public giving visitors rare behind-the-scenes access.
There is a particular kind of magic that happens when you step across the threshold of an artist’s studio. The paint may still be drying, tools rest where they were last used, and works in progress lay bare on the journey towards a finished piece. It’s an intimacy that a gallery rarely offers – a window into the world of imagination, skill and dedication that thrives throughout our region.
Set across six distinct art trails spanning 47 studios and galleries – from the base of the Glass House Mountains through to Kenilworth at Gheerulla Hall – this self-guided event is one of the region’s most beloved creative traditions.
Organised by Arts Connect Inc, Vice President Jen Braithwaite said Open Studios Sunshine Coast offered a reason to visit our stunning region and discover the immense talent that calls it home.
“Follow a trail through coastal villages and hinterland communities, stop for lunch at a local café, discover a hidden gallery, meet the makers, and experience the Sunshine Coast in a way that visitors rarely do,” she says.
The trails are structured across two weekends, with the three Coastal Trails running over one weekend and the three Hinterland Trails over the other – which means with a little planning, you can experience the full breadth of the region’s creative scene.
“Every year, visitors say ‘I wish we’d booked a whole weekend,’” she laughed. “So, we’re saying – make 2026 the year you do it.”
Kicking off the Coastal Weekend are the seaside studios on the Coastal Caloundra trail including the workshop of painter, sculptor and woodworker Trevor Irvine; and Margaret Ellen Turner – a practicing artist of over 30 years with national and international teaching credits – opens her studio alongside the 30th anniversary celebrations at Seaview Artists Gallery.
Heading north, the Coastal Central Trail takes you through the creative heart of Buderim and surrounds. Don’t miss Magali Feuga, a French Australian sculptor and painter whose work centres on the human form; or Jennie Rutz (who graced the front cover of Hello Sunshine Magazine in 2021), who’s intriguing subjects of women and the beach capture something elusive and utterly coastal.
The Buderim Fibre Art and Surface Design Group presents Curated Colour – a striking exhibition of large-scale 2D and 3D textile works – while Denise Gee Ceramics & Mosaics invites you into a joyful tangle of colour, texture and nature. For something with purpose, Equity Works Gallery showcases artists and makers with a disability, a reminder that creativity belongs to everyone.
Further north, the Coastal Northern Trail runs from Mudjimba up through Coolum and beyond. Carlie Johnston of Seajay Art has spent eight years mastering resin – her fluid, ocean-inspired works are as mesmerising as the sea itself. Louise Bastos (Solshine Arts), a Brazilian-born muralist who brings warmth and colour to everything she touches. And don’t miss the studio of Glenda Borchard who contributed to this edition’s front cover. Asia Images Gallery is the newest gallery on the Sunshine Coast. At Marcoola, they specialise in large-scale Fine Art Photography from Asia. These are powerful works that capture the spirit of a fascinating place and ignite the sense of adventure and exploration often felt when travelling in Asia.
Away from the salt and sand, the Hinterland Weekend offers winding roads, creative worlds and studios with a view. Pack an overnight bag, and book a night in Maleny or Montville, and let the mountain air calm your soul. The Hinterland Foothills Trail is an intimate introduction to the landscape between coast and range. Marcel Desbiens – who began his artistic journey in northern Canada before settling here – brings a distinctive eye to his studio-gallery. Annie McIntosh’s contemporary abstract landscapes are meditative works exploring the quiet strength and emotion embedded in the Australian bush. Judith Tompkins of Studio Palimpsest challenges visitors to see the world differently through her distinctive, tactile, interactive mixed-media works.
Up through the rolling green country of Hinterland Maleny, Heather Gall paints Australian birds and landscapes in oils and watercolours, while Jacky Lowry’s printmaking practice uses real plant collagraph plates to create works as earthy and alive as the Maleny countryside. Discover Irish-born painter and printmaker Nicky Carey; Bodo Muche’s foundry which celebrates 19th century French naturalist sculpture through contemporary bronze; and Pinch and Spin Pottery’s Fleur Colgan will throw ceramics in a newly established studio well worth discovering while Lara J. Cooper paints everyday moments with a depth that rewards careful consideration.
The grandest trail of all may be Hinterland Montville, which winds from Palmwoods to Woombye to Nambour and beyond, with 16 studios and galleries to discover. Wolfgang Engel blows glass in his Red Door Studio in Montville in collaboration with acclaimed glass artist Tina Cooper – watching molten glass transform in their hands is reason enough to visit. Julia Peddie, a painter, printmaker and art therapist working from her Woombye permaculture farm, brings beauty and intentionality to her practice; Sarah Sculley’s mural-scale nature-inspired canvases stop you in your tracks (a Hello Sunshine Magazine cover artist from 2023); and Rogues Gallery’s Ali Atkinson offers one of the trail’s most joyfully unexpected experiences. At the far reach, the Kenilworth Arts Council brings the creative spirit all the way to the valley.
“Some artists have spent decades refining their practice and exhibiting nationally and internationally,” Jen says. “Others are opening their studio doors for the very first time. Each brings a unique perspective, and together they create a rich tapestry of creativity that reflects the character of our region.”
Every conversation encourages an artist, and every artwork purchased directly from its creator supports the continuation of creative practice on the Sunshine Coast. These exchanges are more than transactions – they are connections between people, stories and place. This Winter, take the scenic route. You won’t regret it.
Pick up a free Art Trail Guide at visitor information centres, cafés and galleries, or download the Art Trail Planner.
www.openstudiossunshinecoast.com.au
Discover more local artists…
