Neil and Julie Colbran
Southern Almanac
Homestead Galleries 1 & 2
4 February to 1 March 2026
Neil and Julie Colbran welcome you to a combined exhibition of works on canvas and timber. Seasonal forces produce grand trees and bewildering scenes both massive and fragile in our southern landscape. Through presenting the nature of atmospheric and geographic influences together with timbers existing in our unique setting, we hope to share with you the ephemeral and timeless contradictions that surround us.
Neil has developed a craft focus in building tables and trays suitable for presentation, display and bonsai. Timbers used are mainly reclaimed or sustainable Australasian hardwoods.
Julie employs expressionist multimedia to convey the impact of daily exposure to the outdoors and of diurnal and seasonal weather variations.
Works will be available for purchase from 4 February 2026
About Julie Colbran
Julie Colbran is a painter whose work is shaped by the natural grandeur and ancient geomorphology of the ACT region. Working primarily in oil and watercolour, she creates expressive, atmospheric paintings that explore geological formations, rock outcrops, and the cyclical influences of weather and light. Her practice reflects a deep and ongoing engagement with the outdoors, informed by years of walking, camping, and observing the landscapes of southern Australia.
Largely self-taught, with early studies in fashion design and arts appreciation, Julie has spent decades developing a thoughtful and intuitive approach to painting. Her work captures the shifting forces of diurnal and seasonal change, offering viewers a sense of both the resilience and fragility inherent in the natural world. Julie is a member of Strathnairn Arts Association.
About Neil Colbran
Working with reclaimed and sustainably sourced Australasian hardwoods, Neil crafts elegant, functional timber pieces that honour both the geometry and organic unpredictability of his material. His tables, trays, and bespoke timberware reflect a practice grounded in linear design, tactile beauty, and functional utility—each piece evolving organically as the unique characteristics of the timber reveal themselves.
With a lifelong interest in Asian art, culture, and philosophy, Neil approaches his practice with patience and attentiveness, valuing the slow, reflective process that timber demands. He draws continual inspiration from the natural beauty and shared creative energy of the Strathnairn environment. For Neil, the transformation of re-purposed wood into a finished object is both a physical and sensory journey, one that celebrates timber’s ability to inspire, endure, and connect.