Art of the Book

Debut Solo Exhibition by Alana Read - Librarian, Watercolourist, Photographer, Miniaturist, Calligrapher.

By pushing the boundaries of what a book can physically become, by breaking it down to it's essential parts and building it back up again, as well as capturing the elements of books in different ways, Alana has created a unique exhibition.

Whilst exploring her varied artistic skills sets, Alana sympathetically celebrates books, with the intention to bring the stories within their pages to life in two and three dimensions.

Included in this exhibition will also be an extensive literary-related gift retail section including hand-made jewellery, homewares, greeting cards, pins and other items.

Opening Night - 6pm Sunday 10th May, 2026 (Mother's Day)
Exhibition ends - 4pm Friday 5th June, 2026

Immersing herself in the Central Queensland, Australia region’s diverse landscapes by being within easy reach of Beach and Bush, inspiration for her trademark watercolours is never far away.

In her life, Alana has created art using a variety of different media; including oils, acrylics, pastels, pen, ink, charcoal, prints,sculpture, pottery, mixed media and 3D design.

However, after attending a beginners’ watercolour course many years ago, she was bitten by the watercolour bug. She continues to experiment with watercolours, enjoying the challenges they provide.

Alana prefers painting Landscapes, Seascapes, Animals, Still Life and People. Her traditional, representational watercolours have a modern flair and capture the essence of the contemporary rural and tropical coastal Australian lifestyle.

Inspired by the talents of fellow Australian Watercolourists Jenny MacNaughton, Graham W. Smith, Chan Dissanayake and John Newman, Alana continues to experiment and develop her style.

Alana only uses the highest quality Windsor and Newton Professional Artist paints on Arches Watercolour paper, to ensure her paintings are of archival quality.