An artist's year-long road trip around Australia is captivated in a new exhibition, The Long Road Home, at Dudley House on View Street.
Local farmer, art teacher, and painter Elizabeth Conway and her husband embarked on the 'big lap' in early 2023 covering more than 25,000km in a 4WD with a roof top tent.
Ms Conway said the exhibition was a deeply personal reflection of nomadic life.
"The trip was an opportunity to explore our country's vast landscapes and diverse beauty in a way that I never had before," Ms Conway said.
"Everywhere we went, there was a rich variety of scenes, cultures, and experiences that influenced this body of work, which now serves as a visual diary of artworks created during the 12-month journey.
"My paintings are not about how I've painted them; they are about the place.
"The trip was not without its challenges - near Kununurra, our 4WD caught fire, burning almost everything to the ground except my paintings.
"It's a cliché, but a very true one - it's not the destination but the journey that counts. Despite the tragic loss of most of our possessions, this trip created memories and helped us to learn, listen, have gratitude, and most importantly - to grow."
"We decided this traumatic experience couldn't ruin our trip.
"Being on the road for a year teaches you many things about this country, yourself, and the lives of others. You don't need much to be happy."
Manager Bendigo Venues & Events (BV&E) Julie Amos said the artworks conveyed the essence and experience of a remarkable journey.
"Don't miss this evocative exhibition capturing Australia's vast and diverse landscapes through the lens of an artist on the move," Ms Amos said.
"It is a poignant reminder to all of us that our country is so very precious."
The Long Road Home is free and open daily to the public between 11.30am to 5pm from Friday November 15 until Tuesday November 26.
Dudley House is located at 60 View Street, Bendigo.
This is the sixth Artists on View exhibition in 2024, all of which have highlighted the region's thriving local arts scene.
The Artists on View program is presented by BV&E to support local artists presenting new work in Dudley House. It is open to individual artists and arts groups living, working or studying primarily in the City of Greater Bendigo.
