This is an exhibition of works by Helen Morris and Doris Hoyne. Our common art practise of painting and printmaking was the basis from which this exhibition emerged.

Helen’s work depicts the flora and fauna of this south coastal area. Birds and frogs feature foremost in her paintings, prints, drawings and works in mixed media. On the one hand, she excels in very intricate drawings, almost doodles, that make a dense pattern of human and animal forms and, on the other, most of her work is observational – she draws what she sees. It is meticulous exploring and her attention to detail is strong – as if she does not want to leave anything out, however small the thing might be.

And, for me, it is more an inner thread of content than a style that connects my work with Helen’s – our interest in the natural world.

My angle of working is slightly different, as my images are constructed, not found. My recent series of trees shows the distinctive patterns they form, with the idea of standing under the trees, seeing the solid, tall and imposing forms of their trunks.

Here on the south coast we are surrounded by eucalypt forests with those near perfect, often dead straight verticals that are striving to get to the sun and the light.

Lazy Lizard Gallery, Cobargo, 1-30 November 2025.

Doris Hoyne

Photos: (top) Untitled by Doris Hoyne, (bottom) Frogs of SE NSW by Helen Morris.