Local artists at work: A National Works on Paper studio tour

Next date: Friday, 30 October 2026 | 09:30 AM to 03:30 PM

Go behind the scenes of this year's National Works on Paper exhibition on a small-group tour of the studios of Mornington Peninsula finalists Jade Lees-Pavey, Rosie Weiss & Neil Williams.

This unique experience offers an intimate opportunity to meet the artists, discover their creative processes & gain deeper insight into the works currently featured in this year's prestigious exhibition.

The day begins with a curator-led introduction at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, morning tea with Jade Lees-Pavey at her Mornington based studio & then onto Capel Sound & Flinders. The tour concludes with time to lunch at your leisure & explore the creative spaces in Flinders, before returning to MPRG.

With just 11 places available, this is a rare opportunity to engage personally with three of the Peninsula's most respected contemporary artists and celebrate their achievement on a national stage.

Cost includes: Return transport from MPRG, exhibition introduction, three exclusive studio visits and morning tea. Please note lunch is not included and will be at your own expense.

Proposed itinerary:
9.30-10.00am - exhibition walk-through and introduction to NWOP.
10.00-10.45am - Studio visit & morning tea with Jade Lees-Pavey
11.15am-12.00pm - Studio visit & conversation with Rosie Weiss.
12.30-1.15pm - Studio visit and conversation with Neil Williams.
1.30pm-3.00pm - Free time in Flinders. You may wish to explore local galleries, including Cook Street Collective, browse village shops or enjoy lunch at one of Flinders' cafés and restaurants (lunch at own expense).
3.00pm - Depart Flinders
3.30pm - Return to MPRG

Featured Artists: Jade Lees-Pavey
Based at That Creative Space in Mornington, Jade Lees-Pavey is an acclaimed multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores memory, connection, identity and belonging through intricate drawing, printmaking and installation. Her works often combine delicate mark-making with rich narrative elements, inviting audiences into imaginative worlds shaped by both personal and collective histories. Jade has exhibited extensively throughout Victoria and is widely recognised for her engaging community and educational arts practice.

Rosie Weiss
Rosie Weiss is a Mornington Peninsula artist renowned for her exquisitely detailed botanical drawings and works on paper. Inspired by the local landscape and natural environment, her practice combines scientific observation with artistic sensitivity, capturing the beauty and complexity of native flora in striking contemporary compositions. Her work has been exhibited nationally and is represented in numerous public and private collections.

Neil Williams
Working from his Flinders studio, Neil Williams is one of Australia's most respected landscape painters. Over a career spanning several decades, he has developed a distinctive visual language that distils the essence of place through colour, atmosphere and gesture. Drawing inspiration from the coastal landscapes of the Mornington Peninsula and beyond, Williams' work has been exhibited widely and is held in major collections across Australia.

Image above: Rosie Weiss in her Capel Sound based studio & below, Jade Lees-Pavey's Creative Space in Mornington.