Work of outback artists being marketed collectively online for the first time

The Outback Online Gallery is the brainchild of local resident Nicole Bond, who erroneously describes herself as lacking artistic talent, to “support artists living in rural and remote parts of Australia take their creative talents to the world”.

Currently containing the works of 12 people, it aims to collectively market artists who are time poor, lacking internet services or who would prefer to use their time creating art.

It was an idea that came to Nicole when she was travelling back from the Channel Country Ladies Day at Betoota in 2014, reflecting on the talent she saw and the impact drought, isolation and slow internet were having on their ability to put their work before an audience.

“Our first sale was really exciting and absolutely what the gallery set out to do,” she said.

“The artist lives on a property in the central west – she doesn’t have a website, she’s not tech savvy, and she’d been occupied doing water runs.

“She’s since told me the sale has inspired her to do more work, which is another unintended consequence.”

The  Outback Online Gallery also represents artists who don't face the challenge of living in remote Australia but whose work celebrates and is inspired by the outback.

Nicole said most of the artists already had some sort of web presence, but the initiative would mean they were exhibiting online alongside contemporaries, giving their social media broader reach.

“The whole idea is strength in numbers,” she said.

“Our ambition is to become the artistic Etsy of the Outback for creative works.  But unlike Etsy or other online galleries, we are a curated space to keep quality high.”

Rather than just uploading work, potential exhibitors need to contact Nicole to register their interest along with samples of what they have created.

She said the gallery was looking for variety and continuity as well as quality.

“We don’t want just one great shot for sale; we want someone making their mark, who is trying to build something.”

None of the work is physically held by the gallery, which acts as a conduit between buyers and sellers.

Sue Smith owns the Spinifex Collections gift shop in Longreach, which has acted as an outlet for local artists in the past, and she gives the idea the thumbs up.

“The concept is fantastic,” she said. “It’s so hard to display artwork physically; you need so much space.

“I like that she’s connecting people with artists out here. People don’t know they want these things until they see them.”

Sue also had high praise for the gallery’s launch, held in conjunction with a local launch for the Outback Yacht Club, at Camden Park station.

“The images of the artwork were scanned across the bare earth and the children especially loved running round trying to catch them.

“It really captured your imagination.”

Some 100 people attended the event, taking in a 15-minute showcase of imagery, music and lights projected from a high tower.

 “It was a great connection to what the gallery is all about,” Nicole said. “It was outback-inspired works under the stars after a beautiful sunset.”

The gallery currently represents 12 artists including Sandy McLean who recently exhibited at the Agora Gallery in New York, well-known Quilpie artist Annabel Tully, and recent Mitchell Art Show winner Jenie Fawckner.

Another 10 artists, including photographer John Elliott, who has spent a lifetime documenting the bush and country music, in particular Slim Dusty, and local naturalist and photographer Angus Emmott are preparing their works for exhibition and will be launched over coming weeks.

Nicole said the gallery would focus on gathering artists and developing relationships now that it was officially launched.

“We’re keen to experiment with future digital showings to keep people engaged.

“Overseas expansion is something we’ll look at down the track.”

The gallery offers free shipping in Australia and a 14-day no-questions-asked returns policy.