TOURS
Definitely the highlight and best two days of our trip. From the outdoor teatime along the river to the unbelievable grilled fish, grilled cheese (yes, grilled cheese) fresh salad and wine, to the remarkable guide, the first day was truly exceptional. The things that we got to see up close and personal were sensational
Art of Nature Tour
A range of private touring options to introduce you to Kangaroo Island's creative side - the solitude, wildlife and stunning coastal landscapes have inspired many Islanders to express themselves artistically using a variety of media.
A range of these artists have studios or galleries where we can gain an insight to their art, and explore their influences. Choose the art or studios you wish to visit - some of these require a prior appointment to ensure access.
Mark Capon
Mark's formal training as a ceramic artist is obvious in the precision and quality of his work. The range covers tall elegant vases, utilitarian platters, teapots and sculptural pieces, many featuring whimsical fish designs. Mark's attention to detail extends to creating his own pigments and equipment. Given his ceramics are built up by hand and then carved and smoothed down before applying the colour, there is often quite a number of pieces on the go in his spacious and airy studio on the shores of Bay of Shoals.
Neil Sheppard
Neil or Shep as we know him, cannot be pinned down to a particular style. Some of his acrylics have a great sense of freedom, loose vibrant expressions of colour which contrast strongly with Mark's precision. Other pieces are more disciplined and illustrative. Shep often pursues a particular theme for a while - beachscapes, fishing boats, rural scenes or vineyards, then might have a series with a Japanese feel. A visit to Shep's studio is always surprising!
Rustic Blue
Combine the talents of a oil and gas field safety specialist and a paramedic and you probably would not expect a tranquil gallery featuring superb photographs and some unique acrylics situated just off the south coast road. Smilie and Coralie have also gathered a range of quality Australian jewellery, clothing, stationery and even organic chocolate sourced from artisan designers and producers from around the country.
Janine Mackintosh
Janine is a multi-award winnning artist who creates unique contemporary assemblages mainly using native botanical materials. Her art practice sprang from the study of the plants on her heritage bush property. Janine's hilltop studio near D'Estrees Bay is filled with myriad materials, ready for transformation. Her preservationist artworks distill the wondrous details she finds in the landscape and carry a strong message of conservation.
Roo Lagoon Woodwork Shop
Located in the centre of the Island on a farm this workshop is close to the source of rich, heavy deep red seasoned timber. Artisan Jon Gloyne turns up beautiful art and utility pieces from red gum and cup gum - often tempered by nature in bushfires prior to Jon getting it onto his lathe. Select something from his range in the studio or ask for something to be created for you and forwarded home.
