Wetlands by Townsville Watercolour Group

Artists have set out to capture the beauty of these tropical wetlands, from the abundant bird, animal and plant life, the rich and varied colours of the grasses, water and sky to the changing seasons and the drying up of the water sources. Threats to these essential habitats and their unique ecosystems are also explored in some of the works depicting the dislocation of species due to the impact of urban expansion.

Visits to the TYTO Wetlands, Cromarty Wetlands, Townsville’s Town Common and Ross River Dam have enabled artists to connect, appreciate and capture the spectacular beauty, and diversity of these areas – from the macro view of the landscape to its microscopic creatures and plant life.

The transparent, fluid and expressive qualities of Watercolour as a medium make it the perfect vehicle to express the beauty and fragility of these wetlands, both natural and manmade.

We all need to value and appreciate the special place of these Wetlands in the health of our environment and artists represented here hope that the exhibition serves as a reminder to viewers of the need to visit and explore these regional treasures for themselves.