Accidental artist, certain success

cool sandy flats of Turkey Beach in central Queensland yet, somehow, both locations seem to suit John Russell.

The 75-year-old beef producer calls Culbara home but loves nothing more than to escape with wife Jo to their idyllic fishing shack at Turkey Beach when seasonal conditions are in their favour.

Both locations have provided inspiration for John in an artistic endeavour that the bushman never dreamed he'd take on - painting.

Three years ago John was invited to participate in the Are You Out There Leonardo exhibition at the Roma on Bungil Gallery.

The idea was to invite members of public who weren't artists to submit a painting of their favourite shed to help raise funds for the local Mens' Shed.

John's painting of his fishing shack at Turkey Beach sold for $600 and was highly acclaimed on opening night.

It was the first time he'd picked up a brush in the name of art but three years on, John is still busy at the easel and is now hosting his first solo exhibition at the Roma on Bungil gallery.

"It took me about a month to paint that first one and I thought I'd never have to do it again but strangely enough I have just kept going," he said.

"(Roma artist) Sandra Allen really pushed me to keep going after their first exhibition and I just found I was enjoying it."

John's current exhibition, titled Images from the Bush by

an Accidental Painter, features scenes both imaged and real from the Roma district and Turkey Beach.

Native wildlife such as emus, kangaroos, dingoes and hawks are a constant throughout the collection along with images of cattle, working dogs and farm machinery.

Of the 46 canvases on display, 20 sold on opening night in early November, which was attended by more than 70 locals.

"Having not been to many, if any, art shows in our lives, we weren't sure if that was a good turnout but we've been told it was a beauty," John said.

"But it will be my first and last exhibition.

"It's taken me about two-and-a-half years to do all these."

The paintings were either completed in John's shed at Turkey Beach or the machinery shed on Culbara.

"I do most of the painting at Turkey Beach," he said.

"I check the crab pots and then come back and do a bit of painting."

John described the act of painting as "consuming".

He said it helped relieve the stress of feeding cattle and managing drought.

"It is the last thing I ever thought I would bother doing but time just flies by when I'm doing it and I find it a very peaceful, relaxing activity," he said. "I don't have any real goal. I just want to keep doing it because I enjoy it."

John's wife Jo said her husband was "calmer" when he'd spent time painting.

"He's a lot less stressed that's for sure," she said.

"I think he's done pretty well for an old bloke who hasn't the faintest clue what's he's doing."