Avalon Art Scene

There’s something about Avalon that makes you want to grab an easel and get your creative on. The magic runs deep, drawing in makers of all kinds. This village has quietly become home to an extraordinary community of artists producing remarkable work. You can view these artists at Art Gallery on Avalon Beach at 2/17–19 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach. Here are a few of our favourites.

Col Ritchie

Col Ritchie creates lyrical landscapes that blend realism with abstraction, drawing viewers into moments of calm shaped by colour, movement and a Matissian sense of stillness. His clay-and-wood animal sculptures are equally distinctive, each handcrafted with its own personality and charm. A lifelong painter, illustrator and sculptor, Col continues to evolve his expressive practice and regularly exhibits at Art Gallery on Avalon Beach.

@colritchieart |studio888.com.au

Amanda Fuller

Amanda Fuller is a Northern Beaches painter whose work explores the tension between resilience and fragility, moving between expressive landscapes and delicate still-life studies, including taxidermy. After starting her career as a Secondary School Art teacher, she studied painting at the National Art School and continued training here and overseas. Working mainly in oils, she reinterprets art-historical traditions with a contemporary edge and has been shortlisted for major prizes including the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Prize, Mosman, Gosford, Waverley and Basil Sellers Art Prizes. She exhibits locally at Art Gallery on Avalon Beach.

@amandafullerart  |  amandafuller.net.au

Lydia Hicks

This Avalon-based artist, originally trained in sculptural textiles and general drawing with a Bachelor of Visual Arts, spent two decades in Special Needs Education before returning to painting. Her work explores the meeting point between built forms and the natural world, creating bold, clean-lined compositions with balanced palettes. Through perspective and shadows, she reveals the quiet beauty of liminal spaces, evoking nostalgia and moments of calm.

@lydiahicksart | lydiahicksart.com

Barrenjoey Artwalk

Avalon Village came alive this Summer as the Barrenjoey Artwalk, a fundraiser organised by the incredible Barrenjoey High School P&C community, returned for its second year. Designed to support student opportunities while showcasing local talent, the event transformed more than 30 shopfronts into gallery-style displays, which drew quite a crowd!

The trail wound through the village, with local favourites including Nash + Banks, Monte & Lou, Avalon Floral Art, Voss Store, Leilah and Kristina Brenke Studio proudly hosting artworks.

Windows became unexpected street-side conversations, showcasing pieces by Reg Mombassa, Wendy Sharpe and Phil Meatchem, alongside an impressive line-up of emerging and established local artists.

More than a cultural celebration, the Artwalk proved a powerful community initiative. It not only raised vital funds for Barrenjoey High School but also boosted local business engagement and championed Australian artists during a key trading period, supported by major sponsor Wattle Court Sydney North.

“The Artwalk is a brilliant way to celebrate creativity and community,” said Principal Brett Blaker. “It connects our students, families, artists and local businesses in a way that makes learning and art visible right through the heart of Avalon.”

@barrenjoey.artwalk | barrenjoeyartwalk.com.au