MEET US
Oatlands Art Retreat is the brainchild of two Hobart artists and neighbours who wanted to create an opportunity for artists to come together and work side-by-side, to enjoy creative community and stimulating conversation. Our aim for this retreat is that you will leave with your cup full of new ideas, though-provoking concepts and new connections with likeminded people.
Doug Bridge
I’m Doug Bridge, a Tasmanian, and I live between nipaluna/Hobart and Oatlands. I've had a career as a teacher, school principal and university lecturer. I worked as a special educator, trained as a teacher of the vision impaired through the Royal National Institute for the Blind at the University of Birmingham. I undertook a PhD in Science and Mathematics Education through Curtin University.
I have a Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Tasmania where I majored in theory and painting. Specialising in figurative painting my artistic practice is continuing to evolve informed by my dual life as an urban dweller and as a resident of the beautiful midlands area of Tasmania. I became interested in developing the Oatlands Artist Retreat as a way of sharing my love of central Tasmania with the wider artistic community. The landscapes, built heritage and residents of Oatlands now inform my artistic work. I’m confident that you’ll be inspired by working in Oatlands and the surrounding area too.
Sarah White
I'm Sarah White. Originally from Sydney, I moved to nipaluna/Hobart 2 years ago to be closer to nature and for greater life balance. I have a background in Science and Medicine and have a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Sydney. When not organising art retreats, I work in health policy research and development.
In 2015, I took a career hiatus to focus on art, attending the Florence Academy of Art's intensive painting program. This led to cofounding Art Escape Italy, a company offering art retreats with master artists in Tuscany. My experience running art retreats in Italy reinforced for me the joy of collective art making and the immense pleasure of sharing time, food, wine and conversation with likeminded creatives.
I now paint from my home studio in Hobart, Tasmania. My background in science and health informs my work in terms of an interest in how close, careful observation brings us to a heightened awareness, a greater understanding of ourselves, and a more compassionate view of the world. I am also strongly interested in the role that art-making has to play in our physical and spiritual well-being. You can find me on Instagram at @sarahwhiteart
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