The Surf Coast Arts Trail is back for 2025! This will be my 9th year doing the trail and it is one of my favourite weekends of the year. It's such a lovely way to connect with my students and collectors as well as the local creative community.
When: Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, 2025
Time: 10am - 4pm each day
Where: Visit me at Studio 6, Ashmore Arts, 55b Ashmore Rd, Torquay
Previous visitors would agree that Ashmore Arts is an absolute highlight of the trail. Not usually open to the public, this is your chance to come in and check out all the action. It is a beautiful, sprawling artistic community with so many studios to peruse while also enjoying unhindered views of the Spring Creek valley.
There's a huge array of creative workers working there (including myself!). We've got wood carvers and blacksmiths, as well as sculptors, potters, painters and more. It's your chance to come and see where the magic is made. There's also a coffee and food van on site for the weekend. Kids and furry friends are welcome too.
I've got some new works to share with you from my series 'The Ties That Bind' including a selection of the original artworks, limited edition prints and framed reproductions. These works also come together as my 2026 calendar! And I've got all my fingers and toes crossed I'll have my first drop of those available for the weekend too. I'll have my usual host of greeting cards, tea towels and bits and pieces too.
Being able to meet and interact with customers is such a joy. So much of my world is delivered through social media and online. To meet my online course students in person, or collectors who have bought my work - it means the world. And let's face it, buying directly from the artist in their workspace and being able to view everything in person is such an amazing and personal experience!
If the weather plays nice I'm going to set up a bench outside my studio where you can come and play with watercolours yourself, get a feel for the medium and take home a little floral artwork. It is August though, so I can't guarantee that will happen. It's entirely weather dependent!
Ashmore Arts is not the only stop on the map, make sure you get around to some of the other artists and makers. There’s so many studios to visit and the trail covers the shire, from Torquay right over to Lorne and Deans Marsh.
Learn more and view the interactive map on the Surf Coast Arts Trail website
I'm so looking forward to it and I hope to see you there.
My top 5 tips for this year’s Surf Coast Arts Trail
⏰ Arrive early - Ashmore Arts is one of the most popular places to visit on the trail. We’re open from 10 both days, grab a coffee and explore the studios without the crowds.
🌦️ We’re open rain, hail or shine - Don the gumboots and pop that umbrella if it’s raining - it’ll be worth it, I promise!
🐶 Family friendly - Fur babies too! Grab the whole family for a fun day out. Discover a whole range of creatives who are experts in their field including sculptors, ceramicists, painters, blacksmiths, woodworkers and more - and that’s just at Ashmore Arts!
👋 Say g’day - We love meeting existing collectors, online course students, new fans, prospective clients and artists-to-be, and I promise we don’t bite. In fact the whole point of the Arts Trail is to create those connections.
🫶 Support local - It’s been a hectic few years for the creative industry and small business in general. Spend your hard-earned where it’s really going to be appreciated. Many of us also have extra special deals, seconds, samples and more exclusive to the Arts Trail weekend. I mayyyy even have an early preview of my new 2025 calendar!
Here's a few snaps from last years Arts Trail to get you inspired. All photos by Bobby Dazzler Photography.
