On the Easel
'Kiama'
2026
'Kiama' is an intimate study of the iconic Illawarra coastline, capturing the rugged beauty of the Kiama rock platforms and its signature pine-lined headland. This artwork was created to capture the fleeting experience of coastal light and atmosphere. The deep turquoise waters and sun-baked basalt shelves were achieved through a meticulous process of traditional layered glazing.
The piece is finished with premium satin varnish for long-term colour preservation and housed in a professional natural timber frame.
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Framed with certificate.
Available now - enquiries welcome.
On the Studio Wall
A selection of paintings available from the studio for the month of September
"I believe original art should find its way into people's homes. My paintings are individually priced and designed to remain affordable. If a painting speaks to you, please contact me regarding its availability or pricing"
'Snowy Church'
2026
High Country, NSW
A study in peace. This minimalist rendering of a church nestled on a snowfield is calming and quiet, with pleasant solitude.
Acrylic on birch panel, 62 x 47 cm. Satin varnished.
Available now - enquiries welcome.
St James
2026
St James explores the quiet strength of enduring places. Nestled within a field of paspalum beneath an open Australian sky, the old stone church stands not as a monument, but as a steadfast presence within the community it has served across generations. It is a reflection on the sanctuary, continuity, and the profound reassurance found in things that remain constant amid an ever-changing world.
"Some places do not simply occupy the landscape; they anchor it."
Acrylic on 60 x 46 cm birch panel. Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
Light and Stone
2026
Light and Stone reflects upon the enduring dialogue between resilience and remembrance. Through the enduring presence of Point Perpendicular and the evocative ruins of Cape St George, the work explores the many forms of guidance that shape our lives. One continues its watch along the coastline, while the other stands as a poignant reminder of history weathered by time. Together, they speak of purpose, endurance, and the lasting traces left by those beacons that once illuminated the way for others.
"Some lights continue to shine. Others leave their mark upon the stone."
Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 25cm in 51 x 51cm matted frames. Satin Varnished.
Available now as a set of two only - enquiries welcome.
'Holding Light'
2026
'Holding Light' depicts a fictitious headland, loosely inspired by the Kiama coastline on the NSW South Coast. A quiet sea beneath a weather-filled sky. Set on a clear South Coast winter's day.
Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 50 cm with a floating natural wood frame. Satin varnished.
Available now- enquiries welcome.
'The Light Before the Rain'
2026
Pure Imagination, NSW
Safety and warmth at home in the last light of the day before the rain. A study in rural peace, the power of light and human endurance. A subtle, yet dramatic palette, sets the scene.
Acrylic on birch panel, 61 x 46 cm. Satin varnished.
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Watchers on the Plain'
2026
In the quiet of the Australian inland, solitary ghost gums stand as silent witnesses to the passing of countless seasons. The restrained palette and minimalist composition invite the viewer to pause and appreciate the grandeur of the Australian landscape.
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Framed with certificate.
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Hunter 3265'
2026
'Hunter 3265' NSW steam locomotive, built in Manchester in 1902. This loco travelled around 3 million kilometres until its retirement in 1966. It is still operating for special events and is maintained by the Powerhouse Museum NSW. Painted in its distinctive maroon suit. This work took 8 days to complete.
Premium Heritage Series
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Framed with certificate.
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Between Sea and Sky'
2026
A quiet coastal moment where sky, sea and sand meet in a rhythm of light, movement and texture. Rolling turquoise surf breaks across the shore, while the expansive sky brings a sense of calm and space. The intricate patterns of retreating water and wet sand draw the eye gently back toward the horizon.
A study in the contrast between the restless sea and the stillness of the sky.
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Where the Light Breaks'
2026
An imagined interpretation of the sea in motion - where light, shadow and translucent colour collide within the breaking wave. Not an attempt to reproduce nature, but to explore what the ocean might become through paint.
A study in the constant restless power of the sea and the play of light and shadow on its faces.
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'The Sea Takes the Light'
2026
An imagined coastal moment where storm clouds open to the rising sun, and the sea gathers the changing light in layers of turquoise, gold and foam. The foreground becomes an abstract dance of water, reflected colour and movement5 - nature interpreted rather than simply observed.
Stylised, in colour and movement, another study of the beauty of nature.
Acrylic on 40 x 50 cm canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'River Stone Cove Shoalhaven'
2026
River Stone Cove Shoalhaven captures a quiet stretch of the Shoalhaven River estuary, where still water, distant hills and a weathered stone shoreline come together beneath an expansive sky. Painted with a restrained palette and careful attention to reflected light, the work is about the quiet beauty of the river rather than any particular landmark - a familiar Shoalhaven landscape reduced to its essential elements of water, stone, grass and sky.
A fleeting moment in the long and colourful life of the mighty Shoalhaven.
Acrylic on 30 x 40 cm framed canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'River Stone Cove to Pig Island'
2026
There are places along the Shoalhaven River that have no name yet possess a character all their own. River Stone Cove is one such place - a quiet stretch of shoreline where rounded river stones continue beneath the clear estuarine waters, changing in colour and value as they disappear into its depths.
In this second view of the cove, I have approached the scene in full daylight, allowing the expansive blue sky and distant landscape to contrast with the increasingly complex layers of water and stone below. Glazing plays an important role in the work, creating the translucent quality of the shallows while allowing the submerged stones to retain their individual character
The sunlit stones along the shore provide a warm counterpoint to the cooler submerged field, while the weathered rock bank, sparse grasses and small driftwood branch add the quiet evidence of a natural shoreline. Three tiny dandelion flowers provide a final touch of colour - a small connection to the first painting in the series.
Pig Island remains visible across the water, giving this otherwise unnamed place a sense of location without compromising its quiet, almost undiscovered character.
Where the Shoalhaven Stones disappear beneath the light.
Acrylic on 30 x 40 cm framed canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Cambewarra Reflected'
2026
A quiet view across the Shoalhaven, where rock, river and Cambewarra come together beneath the soft light of the afternoon. The mountain's cool atmosphere carries into the water, while the warm sandstone and muted woodlands are gently gathered into the reflection. Painted with layered glazes to suggest the depth and still nature of the river.
Where Cambewarra meets the Shoalhaven, the landscape becomes its own reflection.
Acrylic on 30 x 40 cm framed canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
'Light Above the Cliffs'
2026
Inspired by noir, this dark seascape holds all the mood of a Bogart film of the 40s. A lone lighthouse keeps watch on a rocky shoreline. You can imagine Bogart driving his 1938 Plymouth around treacherous cliff top roads.
Quiet, reflective and fun, this light will always shine.
Acrylic on 30 x 40 cm framed canvas
Satin varnished
Available now - enquiries welcome.
Off the studio wall
Past works that have found their places on walls near and far
The Sentinel Series
Exclusive 3-part Australian Ghost Gum series. Framed and certified.
2026
Available now - enquiries welcome.
Each painting is 31 x 21 cm acrylic on bass panel. Satin varnished.
Stories of the Shoalhaven
including the Illawarra
Stories of the Shoalhaven explores the coastlines, villages, rivers and changing skies of the NSW South Coast and Illawarra. Each original painting begins with time spent in these places-walking, travelling by train, watching weather roll across beaches and headlands, and returning in different seasons and light.
This continuing series of 30 x 40 cm acrylic on canvas each represents a moment in time captured with respect and affection.
Each canvas in this series is presented in a natural wood floating frame with a certificate of authenticity.
'Bombo Beach'
2026
Bombo Beach captures that brief moment before the rain squall arrives - a memory of stormy days by the sea and the coastal luminosity that lingers in the imagination.
Available now. Acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 cm framed - Unavailable
'Bombo Beach Looking North'
2026
Bombo Beach Looking North is painted from the same reference point as 'Bombo Beach'; same day, same weather pattern, but with different light values and a different aspect. Expanding the story of a rainy day at the beach and highlighting the pristine beaches of the NSW South Coast.
The Bombo Quarry Headland features in this work.
Available soon. Acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 cm framed - Unavailable
'Holding Weather' is the very start of an eclectic mix of seascape paintings set in various weather conditions. From clear South Coast Winter days, to tempest and rain. Each single installment will be presented in a natural timber floating frame, on 40 x 50 cm canvases. Fitted with hardware ready to hang. Full archival glazing and satin varnish.
Unavailable
Among the Brushes
Every painting begins long before the final brushstroke. Within the quiet of the studio, among familiar tools marked by years of use, subjects emerge, evolve, and slowly reveal themselves.
This small collection of reflections offers a glimpse into the spaces between inspiration and completion.
"I rarely approach a painting with every answer already known. Each work reveals itself gradually, inviting adjustment, patience, and occasional reconsideration as it finds its own direction."
"I am drawn to subjects that speak of endurance, belonging, and that quiet dignity found in ordinary places. Country railway stations, weathered lighthouses, historic buildings, and familiar landscapes often carry stories that deserve to be presented in paint."
The studio is filled with the simple tools of the trade - brushes worn smooth through years of use.
Paint-stained palettes and surfaces chosen as much for their character as their practicality. I have always found beauty in things that reveal evidence of their journey.
Each original painting is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity bearing my personal seal. It serves as a quiet assurance of provenance and reflects my commitment to preserving the integrity and history of every work that leaves the studio.
All works are professionally finished with archival glazing and varnish to enhance colour, protect the surface and preserve the integrity of the painting.
Among the brushes and quiet hours of the studio, I continue to search for those enduring stories that ask to be preserved in paint.
I am Paul Brennan, painting from my studio in the Shoalhaven, near Nowra, on the beautiful NSW South Coast.
While many works find homes further afield, I particularly enjoy connecting with local collectors who wish to experience the paintings in person.
Visitors are warmly welcome to view a wider selection of works in the studio, where the paintings can be appreciated as intended. Studio visits are available by appointment.
For enquiries, commissions, or to arrange a visit, please get in touch.
