Artist Renee Kamaretsos in front of her work. Photo: Supplied.
A trio of Illawarra artists working out of the Timbermill Studio in Bulli has secured a coveted spot at Brisbane’s prestigious Affordable Art Fair — a rare opportunity for independent creatives.
Renee Kamaretsos, Kera Bruton, and Alison Lawther have formed ARKE, a new artistic partnership that allows them to showcase their work beyond the constraints of traditional galleries.
Their upcoming Brisbane debut in May marks a significant milestone and a growing recognition of the Illawarra’s artistic talent, as the Affordable Art Fair typically features works from more than 40 established Australian galleries rather than independent artist collectives.
Affordable Art Fair started in London in 1999, becoming one of the world’s largest art fairs. It made its way to Melbourne in 2019 before expanding to Sydney and Brisbane.
“We started doing exhibitions locally down here, and the support from the Scarborough Art Show and Thirroul Arts Festival has been fantastic,” Renee said.
She said they then branched into the Sydney market, taking part in five art fairs for independent artists.
“The Affordable Art Fair, which is where we’re heading off to Brisbane for in May, is for galleries,” she said.
“So myself, Kera and Alison formed a collective under the umbrella ARKE, to go to it as a collective, and we got accepted, which was fantastic.”
She said it was proving that independent artists could carve their own path.
In fact, for the North Wollongong artist, the journey to this moment has been anything but conventional.
Once a travel agent, she spent years balancing art with work and family before embracing painting full-time later in life.
“During school I was always arty,” she said.
“I used to say that in geography, I went really well, because my maps were always coloured in the best.
“I didn’t know where the countries were, but the map looked very beautiful.”
An art teacher at Smith’s Hill High School further nurtured Renee’s talents, showing her how to embrace her unique style and not simply copy others.
“He didn’t follow the norm, and pretty much just said, ‘Be yourself’, and ‘Trees don’t have to be green and water doesn’t have to be blue,'” she said.
“I think early on, if you get someone like that who’s really passionate, it comes through your work in later years.”
While Renee continued creating art throughout her travel agent career and raising a family, it wasn’t until a seven-year stint living in Greece that she was able to fully immerse herself in painting.
“I didn’t really get a chance to pick up a brush until we went to Greece and gave up my career and started painting over there for pleasure, which was fantastic,” she said.
“Those seven years overseas with the freedom to just create and not have to worry about any other career and paying bills, it just flowed from there.
“I didn’t want to go back into travel.”
Returning to Australia, she completed a four-year diploma of Fine Arts at Wollongong TAFE, solidifying her decision to pursue art as a full-time profession.
While navigating the balance between artistic freedom and commercial demands can be challenging, Renee remains true to her unique style.
Her vibrant ink and acrylic paintings, often inspired by Illawarra’s coastal landscapes, have gained a dedicated following.
“I have a series of works that was very popular, which are my coastal ink series. Everyone in the northern suburbs, I think, has got one hanging on their wall,” she said, laughing.
Through ARKE, she and her fellow artists now have a platform to support each other, grow their audience, and refine their craft.
“We have a really good bond formed and always give each other positive feedback, or when you’re standing in front of your easel and Kera walks past and says, ‘Step away. Don’t touch it,’” she said, laughing.
“So forming ARKE will be brilliant.
“We’re starting off in Brisbane, and I think we’ll apply for Sydney and Melbourne this year as well.”
She said she’s grateful to the Timbermill and the opportunities it was opening for her.
“It’s a fantastic space for people that probably came from painting in their garage or their back room, which I think we all started from,” she said.
“It’s a brave move to go into a commercial space and put your work on the wall for everyone to assess, criticise and admire.
“That supportive network is imperative for artists to grow.
“It’s an absolute honour to have your artwork hung in someone’s home.
“If you trust your ability in your craft, I think that’s the key, because it comes from within, and if you follow your passion, you’ll always be moving forward.”
Timbermill Studios is located at 2/6 Molloy St, Bulli.
