This design presents a cohesive visual story, themed ‘From the Mountains to the Sea’, celebrating Kempsey as the rich, biodiverse heart of the Macleay River. The design features threatened flora and fauna native to the Macleay including the red-tailed phascogale and loggerhead turtle raising awareness and educating viewers about the threatened status of these important species.

Alex Sugar is a Melbourne-based realism painter well-known for his large-scale murals and studio works depicting native Australian flora and fauna. He has a particular interest in merging this distinctive style with still life and surreal components.

The aim of his mural work is to translate his studio practice to large-scale projects – strengthening his connection to art and the natural environment, while aesthetically enhancing urban sites.

He currently takes on commissioned studio paintings on wooden panels, and charcoal works on high-quality archival paper. He also takes requests for privately commissioned mural projects and council-commissioned mural work. His council work conceptually considers the current socio-cultural and historic roots of the site – contributing assets that are both relevant to the community and act as distinctive artworks in themselves.