Bourke Artist Merren Turnbull was recently selected as the “ABC Western Plains Award” recipient at the 2022 Art Unlimited exhibition in Dunedoo for her painting “Run for Your Money”.  

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 $11,000. Hundreds of art lovers attend the opening night and weekend exhibition in the small rural town west of Dubbo.  

“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 and this year Merren Turnbull from Bourke received the prize for her painting “Run for your Life” which was chosen by Hanging Art judge Lizzy Galloway, Curator of Mudgee Arts Precinct," said Penny Stevens, Art Unlimited representative.  

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

After only recently discovering her talent in the last four to five years, 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.  

“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. 

Merren Turnbull and family: Tim, Sophie and Jess. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

In 2018 Merren entered the “Outback Archies” a competition and exhibition run by Outback Arts based out of Coonamble that provides creative opportunities to seven shires in Western NSW, and was thrilled to receive the “People’s Choice” Award and in 2020 her work was selected to be a part of the “Outback Archies” travelling exhibition.  

Merren, originally from Gulargambone, 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.  

“Between sheep, goats and irrigation we are pretty flat out”, she said “but Tim and I are working on building a studio that people can come and visit and showcase the work that I am doing”, she said. “It’s an exciting time."  

Merren 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, Merran, a pastel landscape artist, loves this medium and the scope it provides.  

Merren's prizewinning work 'Run for your Life' . PHOTO SUPPLIED.

‘I really love working with pastels and I am so happy with how the ‘Run for Your Life’ piece” turned out, said Merran. “My friends husband Ed, sent me a photo one day and said you should paint this and I did," she said with a laugh. “He’s pretty proud." 

"This painting is a lovely depiction of a spectacular outback Australian sunset. The artist has competently used the pastels to create the beautiful colours of an enormous sky which dwarfs the foreground goat as they're urgently herded into the livestock truck in the remains of the day,” says Judge, Lizzy Galloway.  

Although 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. “I had a little boy come up to me who said he loved my work and wanted to paint like me one day. That really warmed my heart and made me glad to think I could inspire someone in some way small." 

“Basically, it is just about giving it a go and getting started. You really don’t know where it will take you," she said. “I’m excited about the future."