The Bathurst Arts Trail, on again this weekend, is a great excuse to explore the countryside whilst familiarising yourself with the work of some of our very best visual artists.

It’s also a chance to sticky beak on just how an artist works and the kinds of studio spaces they work in.

The trail is a collective of artists throughout the Bathurst region who open their galleries to visitors one weekend a month. There are nearly 20 stops on the trail now, both in town and in local villages.

This weekend you could visit the home studios of Bruce and Barbara Holmes, Jane Patterson, Kay Chapman, Louise Ranshaw, Marjo Carter, Merilyn Rice, or Mike and Nicole Foxall, all in Bathurst.

Take a drive out of town to see David Lake (at Newbridge), Greg Hyde (Sunny Corner), Jenny Beach (Millthorpe), Katrina Daly (Napoleon Reef), Mal Booby (at Peel – Sunday only), Suzanne Li (at Meadow Flat – Sunday only) and Wendy Smith (Newbridge).

Other artists exhibit at the T.Arts Gallery, now open opposite Coles.

The Bathurst Arts Trail runs this Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. See who is open when and where at bathurstartstrail.com.

BATHURST Arts Trail member Wendy Smith has an exhibition of her botanical photographs Magic Moments Birds and Blooms showing at Rosebank Guesthouse and Gallery in Millthorpe until September 12.

And Nicole Foxall’s bright paintings can be seen at the Bathurst Wholefood Co-operative. 

THE next Evans Arts Council workshop is Preparing Flowers for Display, is coming up Saturday, September 10 from 10am-4pm at the Lee Street Hall in Kelso.

Cost is $10, bookings essential. Phone Wendy-lou Tisdell 6337 3870 or Shirley Walsh 6331 7027.

The Bathurst Eisteddfod is in full swing at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and continues until Friday, September 16.