SPECIAL WORK: Bright Art Gallery president, Ian Cheyne, is looking forward to the upcoming exhibition, which will include a painting from 1887, titled ‘On the Ovens’ by William Forsyth.

Art gallery opens up 47 years of work to public

Written by CLARE QUIRK.

BRIGHT Art Gallery will open up its collection of prize-winning paintings from the last 47 years.

This is the first time the whole collection will be shown with more than 350 paintings on display.

The paintings include winners from the yearly competitions plus bequests, donations and community purchases.

Norma Bull, the first female war correspondent artist, bequeathed many of her works, as well as several Australian studies.

Pamela Sykes, a great admirer of the gallery, bequeathed many paintings from her personal collection and many other local families have donated special paintings.

The gallery committee has also purchased several paintings to increase the variety of styles.

Bright Art Gallery president, Ian Cheyne, said one of the highlights of the exhibition included an 1887 painting, ‘On the Ovens’ by William Forsyth, which was a gift from the Bright RSL in 1982.

The most important pieces in the collection are Thomas Lawler’s "Buckland Screens", and the portrait of Annie Delany, both purchased with community financial support.

"It’s a remarkably good collection," he said.