ART lovers are in for a treat at this year’s Myall River Festival in Tea Gardens.

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Local artist Larna J. Clarke and Photographer Simon Wilson are literally popping up at the festival.

The pair is opening a pop up shop on the corner of Myall and Maxwell Street, the shop space being donated by Hawks Nest Antenna Services and Travel Agent Jeremy Nolan.

Larna J’s love of art has been a lifelong journey.

“I was drawing, painting and creating ‘Mud Figurines’ from a young age, which was encouraged by my talented grandparents,” Larna told News Of The Area.

She went on to study all forms of art from painting to photography and ceramics.

But her working life took her off the artistic path for a while.

“I became a qualified motor mechanic, spare parts interpreter and later a truck driver,” Larna said.

However, Larna suffered a debilitating accident while working in the mines in 2008 and she eventually moved to Hawks Nest for a ‘sea change’ in 2013.

“Meeting Glenn Callaghan, who was the artist in residence, at ’Callaghans Gallery’ at Hawks Nest was a return to positives in my life,” Larna said.

“He encouraged me to return to my love of art, and within weeks I was painting again.”

“Sadly, Glenn passed recently but he gave me back my confidence and a sense of worth.”

“My paintings are of an abstract Impressionistic nature, some with a Modernistic twist.’’

Simon Wilson is an award winning photographer best known for his seascapes, landscapes and aerial imagery.

Earlier this year he was selected as the winner of the 2017 Drone Photography Competition.

Larna’s creations along with Simon Wilson’s remarkable photographic works will be on display at their opening night on Friday 27 October from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

They’ll pop up again on Saturday 28 October from 10am.

By Margie TIERNEY