Of Rust and Rain

Rust and Rain brings together the remarkable talents of two Mount Isa artists — mother and daughter Rowena Paine Murphy and Claire Murphy — in an exhibition celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and a lifelong passion for making art.

For Rowena, the journey began at school, where she chose Art as a subject. Although her formal art education was limited, a simple gift from her mother at the age of 16 would change everything. While accompanying her mother to the Gold Coast for medical treatment, Rowena was given a set of oil paints to keep her occupied during her recovery.

That gift sparked a lifelong passion.

On returning to Mount Isa, Rowena spent 12 months learning from a local artist before continuing to develop her skills independently. Years later, COVID provided an unexpected opportunity to further her artistic education. With remote learning becoming possible, Rowena enrolled with The Academy of Realist Art in Boston, undertaking courses in the techniques of the Masters. She continues to study with the Academy today.

Rowena has always made space for art, even while raising her family. When her first child was just two months old, she held her first solo exhibition. Her son is now in his 30s, and Rowena continues to paint, teach and create from her home gallery in Mount Isa.

When asked whether she prefers commissions or the freedom to create spontaneously, her answer was immediate — the freedom to create.

For Claire, creativity began in a very different way. As a child, she was always tinkering in the shed with her father, developing a natural curiosity for making and understanding how things worked.

During COVID, that curiosity became the catalyst for the magnificent Camp Drafter, now proudly positioned on the Gallery lawn. With no formal training, Claire has taught herself draftsmanship, engineering and boilermaking skills, allowing her to create sculptures of extraordinary detail and complexity.

Her work has already made its mark beyond Mount Isa. In 2023, she was commissioned by the owners of Barkly Homestead to create a spectacular five-metre sculpture depicting two goannas fighting.

Claire continues to learn through creating and challenging herself. This year, she judged Sculptures Outback Roma, further recognising her growing reputation as a sculptor.

When asked about her goal, Claire simply said she would love the challenge of a big commission piece.

Together, Rowena and Claire demonstrate two generations of creativity — one expressed through paint, the other through metal and machinery.

Their journeys may be different, but both are driven by curiosity, persistence and the freedom to create. Rust and Rain is a celebration of that shared creative spirit.