Bourke Artist Merren Turnbull was recently selected as the “ABC Western Plains Prize” recipient at the 2023 Art Unlimited exhibition in Dunedoo for her painting “Coolabah Glow”.  

Also receiving the award in 2022, Merren was stoked to see her name selected once again this year. 

“The artwork I created is an acrylic on canvas,” said Merren. “it’s a beautiful Coolabah tree on our property that I absolutely love,” she said. 

“Being my first ever attempt at using a ‘wet’ paint, I feel I was a little too ambitious as it didn’t turn out the way I had seen it in my head due to my inexperience,” she laughs. “My usual attitude of all or nothing rings true here.” 

“Part of being an artist, you’re your own harshest critic,” she said. “The inspiration for the piece was from some stunning family photos we had taken a few years ago by Georgie of Georgie Johnson Photography.” 

“The sun setting filtering through the leaves was magical, but I am not sure I will do anymore acrylic paintings as I found it to foreign,” laughs Merren. 

Art Unlimited has established a reputation as one of regional Australia’s leading art competitions with artists, photographers and ceramicists vying for prizemoney in excess of $14,000. Hundreds of art lovers attended the opening night and weekend exhibition in the small rural town west of Dubbo.  

ABOVE: Winning painting "Coolabah Glow" 

Penny Stevens, Art Unlimited Event Manager, was thrilled with the event and the quality of the entries in 2023. 

“Art Unlimited has become established as one of regional Australia’s most exciting visual arts events attracting entries from artists, printmakers, photographers and ceramicists from Across Australia.” 

“The ABC Western Plains Prize for the work that best depicts the western region has been awarded to Merren Turnbull from Bourke for the second year running,” she said.  

“Her large acrylic painting “Coolabah Glow” prompted the following comments from Judge Kent Buchanan, Curator of Western Plains Cultural Centre: 

“Merren has captured a fleeting moment on which the interplay between light, colour and texture combine to create an image familiar to all of us in regional NSW,” said Mr. Buchanan. 

ABOVE: Art Unlimited Opening night - photo supplied Merren Turnbull 

Art Unlimited is presented each year by Dunedoo Lions Club and is a source of great pride to residents of the Dunedoo district. It attracts visitors from across the region, giving a significant boost to local businesses. This year around 300 entries were received across the competition’s four categories.   

“Since its inception in 2008, Art Unlimited has attracted entries from across Australia. It has been supported by ABC Western Plains from the outset. As well as giving the event valuable exposure to its broad listening audience, the station offers an award for a work that depicts the Western Region”, said Penny Stevens, Art Unlimited representative.  

After only recently discovering her talent in the last five years or so, Merren has progressed from novice artist to winning awards for her pastel paintings depicting scenes from her life in Western NSW on the land where she lives with her husband Tim, and daughters Jess and Sophie outside of Bourke.  

ABOVE: "Occupational Therapy" another entry in the competition of Merren's 

“I always enjoyed drawing and painting but just dabbled in it. Then one day I decided to do a few lessons with our local artist Jenny Greentree and finally just decided to go for it and I am amazed at where it has taken me”, she said. 

“Everything around me inspires me, whether it’s enjoying a morning sunrise over my coffee cup or watching a storm roll in, it really is beautiful out here”, she said. 

“I did lots of staring at this piece, to work out where I was going with it and how to fix mistakes, being so frustrated by the drying time since I am accustomed to my dry pastels.” 

“I nearly didn’t enter it into the exhibition purely as it wasn’t exactly what I had envisaged, but I am glad I did.” 

ABOVE: "Soaring Mt Oxley" entered in this years prize by Merren Turnbull  

Originally from Gulargambone, Merren helps run the family farm, fitting in an off-farm job two days a week and caring for her family and chasing her art passion in between.  

She sells good quality prints of her paintings and is commissioned to do works by people from all over Australia. Crediting her art skills to her mother, also a clever painter, Merren, a pastel landscape artist, loves this medium and the scope it provides.  

Merren is very humble about her work, she loves supporting local exhibitions and competitions.

“I love supporting other artists and organisations that support artists”, she said. "Everyone has so much to give."