Forty-eight works are on show from sixteen local artists who belong to the Uralla drawing group Cocktails@5.

There was an impressive range of techniques and subject matter with Susie Spencer’sbig silk screen prints, Lizzie Horne’s hand coloured etchings, and combined media works by Jill Schuler and Fran Howard-Prowse. 

Some works have quite ambiguous images, like Michael G-Taylor’s photographs Dimplex I, II, III which show Michael’s eye for detail while visiting the local tip.

Richly inked etchings by Peter Low capture his views from the bridge of a trading tanker, and closer to home Balala, a local heritage working sheep property, gives inspiration to the sketches of Karin Jackson and Carl Merten, and to the prints of Rhonda Ellem. 

Backyards and gardens are the subject matter of Cat MacGegor’s, Jenny Taylor’s Bruce Haswell’s sketches, and the arrangement and colour pattern of Chillis provide the inspiration for John MacGrath’s two works.

The alluring technique of encaustic is used by Joan Relke and Megan Robinson where compositions are made from images and textures saturated with beeswax. 

Jan Clark’s captures the beautiful and soft surface qualities of her beloved moths in three standout pieces. 

Begun in late 2012 with two keen artists, the group, known as Cocktails@5 now has a membership of twenty creatives who thrive on a love of drawing.

For almost four years they have met weekly in and around Uralla to draw with the humble pencil, paper, eraser and sharpener. 

The members range from professional to emerging artists and those who create for personal happiness.

Their skills are diverse and encompass acrylic painting, printmaking on paper and textiles, pottery, sculpture, encaustic, textile art, coloured pencil, photography, contemporary lacemaking and illustration.

The current exhibition is a testament to their amazing talents, so come and see what the locals do!

The show runs until noon November 2.