The Lake Pillans wetlands are now immortalised in Macquarie Street, after Blackheath artist Robert Malherbe’s painting of the location won the 2016 NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize this week.
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Mr Malherbe came to Australia as a young boy from Mauritius, and now lives in the Mountains with his partner, Dana Rayson.
He’s been a finalist in the Plein Air Painting Prize a number of times, but it’s his impression of our wetlands that has got him over the line.
Mr Malherbe said he and his partner have found a number of inspiring subjects in recent trips to town.
“I was looking at the Blast Furnace as a potential subject and then I noticed the wetlands, the sunlight around there and the tranquility,” he said.
“The fact that it’s this piece of nature surrounded by industry… I just thought ‘this is absolutely beautiful.’”
Mr Malherbe takes home $20,000 in prize money for his efforts and the bragging rights for creating a piece of Lithgow history.
