Finalist News: The Doyles Art Award 2025
- Deb Michell-Smith
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
I’m absolutely thrilled to share that I’ve been selected as a finalist in The Doyles Art Award in Mudgeeraba, Queensland—one of the most respected prizes celebrating traditional and contemporary landscape art in Australia.
This year, I’m honoured to have two paintings recognised:
Southern Solitude 2025
🎨 ‘Southern Solitude’ has been selected in the Landscape category. This work is a quiet reflection on the rugged beauty of the Fleurieu Peninsula coastline in South Australia—where dramatic cliffs meet windswept seas, and solitude feels both grounding and expansive. It speaks to the raw, untamed nature of the landscape, the sense of stillness that lingers in the salt air, and the quiet resilience required to live in harmony with such a powerful environment.
Balancing Boyhood 2025
🧍♂️ ‘Balancing Boyhood’ is a finalist in the Figurative category. This piece explores the tender space between play and vulnerability, capturing the fleeting moments of growing up. It speaks to the delicate balancing act of identity, innocence, and strength that boys navigate, often unseen.
Being chosen for both categories is not only a personal milestone but also a deeply meaningful recognition of the stories I aim to tell—stories grounded in the landscape and in lived experience, particularly in rural and regional life.
I’m incredibly grateful to the judges and organisers of The Doyles for their support of Australian artists and storytelling through art. It means a great deal to be part of this vibrant and diverse creative community.
If you find yourself in Queensland between July 3 and July 13, I’d highly recommend visiting the exhibition at Firth Park Community Centre Somerset Drive Mudgeeraba. It promises to be a rich celebration of artistic talent from across the country, and I’d love for you to see these works in person.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support my journey—it’s a joy to share it with you.
Warmly,
Deb Michell-Smith
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