THOUGH artist Debbie Paton was born in Sydney and grew up on the North Shore, when she moved to Canberra with her husband and two dogs in 2005, it was a revelation.

“Here in Canberra surrounded by majestic mountains stretching off into the far horizon and vast open paddocks,” she says, “I am greeted each morning by the native birds that flock to our garden.”

Now she is exhibiting a body of paintings that attempt to capture her impressions of this landscape and the birds who have become her friends.

Paton says he has developed her own style of painting using a pallet knife which allows free expression of her impressions onto the canvas while also adding texture to give the viewer a sense of the ruggedness of the Australian landscape.

“AroundCanberra,” a debut solo exhibition of paintings by Debbie Paton, in gallery@bcs, Belconnen Community Centre (NOT Belconnen Arts Centre),Swanson Court, August 13-24, 9am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. Opening Wed August 15 at 6pm, all welcome.