In the studio with Shay

I don't paint what I see.  I paint what it feels like to encounter it.

Hi, I’m Shay.

I’m a contemporary Australian oil painter based  in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, creating original paintings inspired by the landscapes, animals, birds, water and quiet moments of country life that surround me.

My paintings begin with a feeling.

A particular quality of light. The stillness of a paddock after rain. Birds gathering on a wire. An old gum standing alone in a field. The feeling of driving through the landscape I love and knowing I am home.

I’m not interested in simply recording what a place looks like. I want to capture something of what it feels like to be there, the atmosphere, movement, freedom, stillness and sense of connection that can stay with us long after the moment has passed.

Paintings to live with

I believe original art changes a room in a way nothing else can.

It brings personality, feeling and a sense of story into a home. It gives us something to return to every day, something that can become part of the memories made there.

This is why I create paintings that invite you to spend time with them.

They are expressive and layered, with richly textured surfaces and loose, intuitive mark-making. I use oil paint alongside unconventional tools to build depth, movement and a sense of atmosphere. Some details are suggested rather than defined, leaving space for your own memories and imagination to become part of the work.

For me, the most beautiful thing about collecting art is the moment a painting stops being a painting and becomes yours.

Perhaps it reminds you of somewhere you have travelled. Perhaps it brings the feeling of country into a city home. Perhaps the colours simply make your heart feel a little lighter every time you walk past.

Whatever the reason, I want my paintings to become part of your story.

Six ways of seeing the world

Over time, these quiet encounters have become the foundation of my six collections:

Gather — connection
Linger — presence
Fly — freedom
Belong — home
Bloom — hope
Meet — connection with another presence

Together, they explore the emotional language of the natural world and the different ways we experience the places, creatures and people we love.

From my studio in the Macedon Ranges

My studio and gallery are in Lancefield, surrounded by the landscape that continually feeds my work.

There is something special about seeing a painting in the place where it was created, understanding the landscape behind it, noticing the textures and colours that inspired it, and taking the time to find the work that feels like it belongs with you.

Whether you are beginning your collection, looking for that one painting that will transform a room, or choosing artwork for a client, I hope the experience feels personal.

Because ultimately, choosing original art isn't simply about finding something beautiful for a wall.

It is about finding something that makes you feel something.

And then getting to live with that feeling every day.

Come and see the paintings in person

If you’re visiting the Macedon Ranges, I’d love to welcome you into my studio and Lithic Art Gallery in Lancefield. Come and wander through the collections, see the paintings up close, and take your time finding the one that feels like it belongs with you.

Studio & Gallery visits are available by appointment. 

See you soon 

Shay xx