Back by popular demand! Come and paint the beautiful scenery and explore aquatic life on the banks of Lake Pillans in Lithgow at an event that brings art and science together in a day of painting, talks and science.

Peter O’Doherty, co-founder of Mental as Anything and one of Australia’s most recognised urban landscape artists, will be painting at the event - a day of creativity in the company of established artists and scientists, with opportunities to learn about the waterways and creatures that impact our local water ecology.

Bring your art materials (or use our paper and paints) and a chair and pick a spot to create an artwork in this unique and precious environment.

Enjoy a morning of creativity in the company of established artists and scientists. Often seen as opposing disciplines, art and science are often not much different in their intention – to explore and understand the world in which we live.

You will have the opportunity to submit your artwork for consideration for an exhibition celebrating the waterways in the second half of 2024. However, this is not a pre-requisite for attendance.

This transformative project is the brainchild of artist and Western Sydney University academic Dr Leo Robba in collaboration with Dr Ian Wright, a renowned water scientist. The Painted River Project Lake Pillans event will draw people from near and far to the unique wetland location to share in an experience centred around water.

The Painted River Project engages the community through art on the health and future vision for the waterways given they are central to the future planning of our region. Water and our river systems are the foundation of healthy cities and human well-being.

PLEASE NOTE: Participants will be notified of the exact location to meet at Lake Pillans prior to the event. In the event of stormy wet weather, the event will be postponed. Please follow our Lithgow Transformation Hub Facebook page and Instagram profile for event updates.

The event is funded by the Black Summer Bushfire Grants Program which is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government National Recovery and Resilience Agency.