MRBTA would like to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary contribution Patricia Negus has made to the region and the tourism industry throughout her career. The work Pat has produced out of the Swallows Welcome Art Studio is an important collection representing the natural wonder of our region and the Studio has been a space of wonder and delight for both local residents and visitors to the region – an offering that will be much missed.
Pat has been a great supporter of MRBTA over the years, generously providing her artwork for a range of products available in the Visitor Centres that have allowed visitors to take home mementos of their time here which has helped to spread the news of the special wonders of the region. These artworks were provided with a request that a percentage of profits were provided to support the Friends of the Cape to Cape, further cementing Pat’s status as an institution of the region.
Thank you, Pat, for your support, generosity and the beauty you have created over the years. We wish you all the best as you enjoy your retirement.
If you’ve ever consulted a local guide book on walking along the Capes coast or appreciated the south west’s wildflowers, chances are you’ve seen the botanical art of Patricia Negus.
The much-loved Margaret River artist will open her studio, Swallow’s Welcome, for the last time at this month’s Margaret River Region Open Studios, and for just four days.
Patricia will be selling off 100 original watercolours and paintings that featured in the comprehensive book: Wildflowers of South West Australia by Jane Scott. The two talents collaborated for three years with Jane collecting and describing 502 of the most common wildflowers of the south west, and Patricia captured details of 499 of them in watercolour. There have been three editions of this beautiful publication and this will be a one-off opportunity to own an original artwork from the popular book.
Her ‘Swallows Welcome’ studio in East Witchcliffe studio will open from Saturday 12 September until Tuesday 15 September, from 10am to 4pm and she will be assisted by her daughter Sally.
The mud brick studio is a beautiful space where for many years visitors have admired the gardens, birdlife and surrounds, met Patricia and viewed her books, cards, prints, watercolours and woodwork. Her studio includes ‘The Chapel of the Flowers’ built by her late husband Tim for Pat to display the watercolours from the wildflower book.
Sally said her mum had been such an inspiration to her and so many in the Margaret River community. “She started watercolour painting in the ‘70s but she is so creative and talented that she can turn her hand to any medium and has made countless beautiful and unique objects over the years.”
“Mum won many prizes in art exhibitions prior to opening her studio in 1995, after that she was very busy with her various book projects and commissions. Mum’s delight in nature is reflected in her art. She loves to show visitors to her studio the different species of small birds in her garden and knows exactly where they are nesting.”
“She is currently obsessed with the colours and patterns of fallen marri leaves which she is collecting and making into cards for Open Studios. It is the end of an era and sad that Swallows Welcome Art Studio will be closing its doors soon but Mum is turning eighty this year and it is time for her to slow down and put her feet up!” Sally said.
Patricia’s paintings and illustrations are also celebrated in The Magical World of Fungi, Rottnest Island (a collaboration with her daughter Sally), Catch of the Day – a pictorial collection of the fish and ocean creatures of the South West, A Tale of Two Honey Possums, and the Cape to Cape field guides and walking books.
Patricia will be one of 103 artists participating in this year’s Margaret River Region Open Studios event, now in its seventh year.
To find out who is participating, view studio details, maps and opening times more visit mrropenstudios.com.au and download the updated event guide to your phone, iPad or laptop. Follow the event on Facebook (@mrropenstudios) and Instagram (@margaretriverregionopenstudios).
Contributing Author: Janine Pittaway