Deb Michell-Smith Artist

09/10/2026

✨ What a night for the inaugural Narrabri Portrait Prize! ✨

There’s something pretty special about seeing a community come together over art, and Friday night was just that ❤️

The 4.30pm artists’ preview was buzzing, with so many talented artists and their sitters arriving early. I had the chance to meet lots of new creative people, share a few conversations and admire the incredible collection of portraits before the doors opened to the wider community at 6pm.

And then… WOW! It was absolutely jam-packed, with such a wonderful energy and genuine excitement for the arts in our little town of Narrabri🎨🙌

A huge congratulations to the prize recipients:
🏆 Katherine Harvey Katherine for her beautiful watercolour portrait of local identity Dennis Harvey.
🎨 Judy Nobilo Judy Nobilo for her portrait of local artist Craig Salmon.
✨ Jessie Shorter for his fabulous contemporary portrait, receiving the encouragement award.

A huge thank you to my sitter Amber Driver 🧡
I must admit, I love every portrait in this exhibition. ❤️ Each one celebrates the people of Narrabri, capturing their personalities, stories and the important connections they hold within our community. It’s such a wonderful reminder of how art can bring people together and shine a light on the people who make our town so special. 🧡🎨

A big congratulations to every artist who put their work on the wall, a heartfelt thank you to the generous sponsors who supported this event, the fabulous judges Brooke Dalton Brooke Dalton , Allison Bellinger A•K•Bellinger Gallery and Angie Jones and an enormous shout-out to The Tourist Hotel The Narrabri Portrait Prize for bringing this fabulous event to life. ❤️

Nights like these remind me how important art is in bringing people together, creating connections and celebrating the people who make our communities special.

Here’s to more nights like this, celebrating the incredible talent right here in regional NSW

Don’t forget there is a people’s choice award so get yourself into the Palmer Room and vote for your favourite 👏👏 Open until 23rd October

CREATE Narrabri Shire

29/09/2026

LAND. CARE. 🐦🌿
I’ve got three little bird paintings heading to little magpie gallery in Cowra for their fabulous new exhibition LAND. CARE. running from 1 October – 15 November.

I love this theme. Art and environmental science coming together to get us thinking about the land around us, the places we call home and how we can look after them. 🌱🐦

And a big shout-out to Inel Date for the amazing job she’s doing with little magpie gallery 🙌
The themed exhibitions she puts together, the artists she brings together and the opportunities she creates are such a fantastic contribution to the arts in regional Australia. It’s pretty special to have someone championing artists and ideas in the regions the way she does ❤️

The opening celebration is Thursday 8 October at 6pm, with guest speakers Amanda Foxon-Hill and Scott Hickman from Mid Lachlan Landcare
So if you’re around Cowra, go have a wander through the gallery, say hi to the birds 🐦 and check out LAND. CARE.

🌿 1 October – 15 November
📍 little magpie gallery, Cowra
🥂 Opening: Thursday 8 October, 6pm

25/09/2026

A WEEKEND WITH A BRUSH
Slow down. Pick up a brush.
Paint the weekend away.
RELAX. PAINT. REPEAT.
THREE-DAY ART WORKSHOP
29 • 30 • 31 OCTOBER 2026
Join us for A Weekend With A Brush

A relaxed, fully catered three-day painting experience set amongst the beautiful Nandewar Ranges.
Held at ‘Castletop’, a working cattle property between Narrabri and Bingara in northern NSW, this is a chance to step away from the everyday, spend time painting, learn from experienced artists and connect with fellow creatives.
LED BY
Barry & Lucy McCann
McCann Fine Art, Armidale
The three-day workshop includes:
Daily demonstrations and hands-on tutoring
Painting in the large, open shearing shed
The option to paint en plein air or indoors with still-life setups
Time to develop your own work and painting practice
Evening critique and relaxed conversations over cheese and w**e
Delicious, home made, fully catered lunch and dinners throughout the workshop and self serve breakfast
A welcoming and supportive environment for all mediums and abilities
Watercolour • Acrylic • Oil
Or draw….your choice!

THE LOCATION
‘Castletop’
Nestled in the Nandewar Ranges between Bingara and Narrabri, ‘Castletop’ is a working cattle property surrounded by the beauty and character of the Australian landscape.
Come for the painting, stay for the country air, good company and three days to slow down, create and be inspired.
$475 PER PERSON
Three days • Fully catered • All abilities welcome
SPACES ARE LIMITED
BOOK NOW
Bookings available via the link on our website - link in bio
https://www.debmichellsmithart.com/event-details/a-weekend-with-a-brush-2026

For enquiries:
Deb Michell-Smith
0429 926 290
[email protected]

24/09/2026

💧 CREATE 2026 | WATER 💧

I’m excited to be part of CREATE Festival 2026 in Narrabri, with two paintings Edge of the Peninsula and Pasture to Sea

This year’s CREATE theme is Water, and it’s a theme that has a beautiful way of connecting place, landscape and memory.

CREATE is such a wonderful celebration of our regional creative community, bringing together artists, makers, schools, community groups and people from across the Narrabri Shire.

📍 The Crossing Theatre, Narrabri
🎨 Exhibition: 2–18 October 2026
⏰ 10am–3pm
🥂 Opening Night: Friday 2 October, 7pm

Come along, have a look, support our local artists and immerse yourself in CREATE 2026

I’d love to see you there on opening night💧🌾🌊

CREATE Narrabri Shire
https://www.narrabri.nsw.gov.au/Our-Community/CREATE

15/09/2026

I recently had the pleasure of painting a special birthday gift: an Air Tractor ag spray plane 🎨✈️

It was such a fun project bringing this hardworking aircraft to life on canvas, capturing the character and detail that make it such an important part of our local farming community.

I love creating meaningful, personalised paintings that celebrate the people, places and passions that matter most. I hope this birthday gift brings plenty of joy for years to come ❤️

Air Tractor
Field Air

13/09/2026

Very excited to be a finalist in the inaugural Narrabri Portrait Prize! 🥰🎨

It’s pretty special to have a painting included in this brand-new local exhibition, right here in Narrabri.

The exhibition opens Friday 9 October and runs through to 23 October at The Palmer, The Tourist Hotel

The Narrabri Portrait Prize

A big congratulations to Angie for putting together such a fabulous event and creating another opportunity for artists to showcase their work and for our community to come together and celebrate art.

Looking forward to seeing all the portraits hanging together, celebrating the Narrabri community ❤️

A little peak at my portrait attached 😉
Don’t forget to visit the exhibition and vote for people’s choice 👏👏

11/09/2026

Tickets available now

🎟️ Tickets are now on sale for CREATE Festival 2026 Opening Night!

Join us on Friday 2 October as we officially launch CREATE Festival 2026 and celebrate the start of two weeks of arts, culture and creativity across the Narrabri Shire.

🌊 Be among the first to explore this year's CREATE Art Exhibition inspired by the theme Water
🥂 Enjoy a complimentary welcome drink and canapés
🎨 Meet the artists and celebrate the incredible creative talent of our region
✨ Witness the unveiling of a new public art sculpture

📍 The Crossing Theatre
🕖 7.00pm
💲 $55 per person

Secure your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable evening celebrating creativity and community.

🎟️ Book now: https://ow.ly/zFnx50ZL6IX

11/09/2026