Two Sisters

The Gay Art Group spent a memorable day in the Blue Mountains exploring two remarkable private collections that celebrate creativity, identity and connection.

The morning began with Nick and Adrian, who welcomed us into their home, studio and collection.

Nick, a five-time Archibald finalist, is known for his hyper-real portraits—most famously his People’s Choice-winning painting of Deng Adut (2016). In his studio, he spoke about the discipline and empathy behind his work, offering insight into how each layer of paint builds both likeness and emotion.

Together, Nick and Adrian have also built a collection with a strong Central Australian focus, reflecting their deep engagement with landscape and story.

AFTER THE MORNING VISIT, we travelled to David and Lloyd’s, where, after a Mimosa Garden tour, they hosted a beautiful lunch before showing us through their collection. 

Having retired to the mountains five years ago, they have been collecting art for over forty year. Their collection—now more than 700 works—spans painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture, united by a focus on the figurative and social.

In recent years, their collecting has turned toward artists exploring themes of LGBTQ+ identity, Indigenous experience, and migration, including works by Abdul Abdullah, Richard Bell, Reko Rennie, Michael Cook, Todd Fuller, Alex Seton and others.

As the afternoon light faded across the ridges, it was clear the day had offered more than art alone—it was a celebration of generosity, dialogue and the shared belief that art connects us all.