We offer classes for all abilities in wonderful studios with ample parking, minutes from the CBD. We have a great choice of courses including Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Fabric Printing, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewellery and Children’s Art, all of which are taught by expert tutors, specialist in their respective fields. Art classes at BiA are a relaxing way to explore your creativity. They are structured and instructive, but enjoyable and energizing at the same time. A wide range of subjects and skill levels are available. Numbers in classes are kept to a maximum of 12 so that the tutor has plenty of time to speak to each student individually, as well as teaching the group as a whole. There is a great sense of community at BiA, so many students continue with their classes term after term, sometimes in the same class sometimes progressing in skill level or changing subject. Everyone is welcome.
The Brisbane Institute of Art is a non-profit creative arts centre that houses studios, workshops, and galleries. The Institute supports contemporary creative arts practice in an environment that embraces diversity, experimentation, and continual change. As an incorporated association, BIA is governed by a Committee of Management and administered by the Arts Manager. Its arts programs are developed in close consultation and collaboration with contemporary artists. Running costs are covered by participant fees, studio hire, and exhibition income. Special projects have been supplemented by occasional local and state government grants. BIA plays an important role in providing access to affordable contemporary art spaces. The exhibition program showcases work by emerging, mid-career, and established artists. The studios operate on an open-access basis and are available to professional artists and the broader community when not in use for scheduled activities. BIA welcomes and thrives on the diversity of people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Arts programs include:
Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Contemporary Printmaking, Fabric Printing, Silversmithing, Enamelling, Ceramics, Contemporary Sculpture and Assemblage, Art for Children and High School Students.
A quarterly workshop program includes:
Berenice Anzellotti, Peter Biddulph, Nancy Brown, Deborah Cavallaro, Mia Clark, Clare Purser, Yumiko Kigoshi,, Allin Dwyer, Renata Fojtikova, Geoffrey Harley, Stephen Newton, Dianne Peach, Kirstin Farr, Nicole Sylvestre, Gwenn Tasker, Svetlana Trefilova, Glen Skien, Rod Turpin, Zoe Porter, Catherine Large, Kathryn Bulmke and Maree Cunnington.
Glen Skien
Printmaking, Drawing, Painting & Assemblage
Glen Skien’s studio practice spans printmaking, drawing, painting, and assemblage, often combining multiple disciplines to explore narrative, memory, and meaning. His work frequently blends printmaking, collage, text, drawing, and found objects, creating outcomes that sit within the realm of the poetic or “object-poem.” Rather than prescribing meaning, his artworks invite reflection and interpretation, evoking subtle layers of “aboutness.”
Glen holds both a Doctorate and a Master of Fine Arts from Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, and began his formal training with a Diploma of Fine Art at Pimlico TAFE, Townsville. In 2016 he was appointed Associate Lecturer at Griffith University, where he convened drawing and printmaking courses and supervised postgraduate students in Honours and Doctorate programs.
As an educator, Glen tailors his approach to each student, helping them identify the medium and methods that best support their artistic growth. He values dissolving traditional hierarchies in art education, embracing teaching as a two-way exchange where both tutor and student gain insight into the creative process.
Instagram: @silentparrotpress
Clare Purser
Painting, Drawing, Collage & Mixed Media
Clare Purser is a painter specialising in studio and en plein air painting, with additional practice in drawing, collage, and mixed media. She completed a Bachelor of Visual Art (Honours) at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Brisbane, and has been exhibiting professionally since 1996. Clare is represented by Woolloongabba Art Gallery and regularly shows her work interstate. Recent highlights include a painting residency at Haneena Hill in the Granite Belt and an exhibition at Woolloongabba Art Gallery in October 2025.
Clare’s teaching approach is hands-on and encouraging, helping students develop skills while discovering their own artistic voice. She demonstrates a variety of painting, collage, and mixed media techniques, introduces students to inspiring artists, and fosters lively discussions about art, techniques, and exhibitions.
Her work focuses on the landscapes of south-east Queensland, exploring connection to place and environmental fragility. Clare enjoys the immediacy of en plein air painting and the process of translating ideas into semi-abstract studio works, often using gouache, oils, and mixed media.
Outside the studio, Clare enjoys travel, spending time in nature, and engaging with the wider arts community.
Instagram: @clarepurserstudio
Website: www.clarepurser.com
Berenice Anzellotti
Drawing, Painting and Art for Children
Berenice Anzellotti is a multidisciplinary artist working across installation, sculpture, drawing, painting, and printmaking. She holds a Master of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from QUT, along with an Associate Diploma of Visual Arts and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Berenice’s teaching is grounded in a supportive and inclusive approach that encourages students to explore, take creative risks, and develop confidence in their artistic voice. Influenced by mentors such as William Robinson and John Armstrong, she values generosity and curiosity in the studio, guiding each student to find their own path.
As a practicing professional artist, Berenice has exhibited widely in solo and group shows at regional galleries, universities, and independent spaces. Her work has featured in publications such as Have a Look (Queensland University Art Museum), and she has undertaken numerous residencies and commissions that integrate professional practice with arts education.
Her current practice explores installation as a means of investigating space, form, and material, often using organic elements to reflect on femininity, community, and connection.
Alongside her studio and teaching practice, Berenice works in arts education with Years 5 to 12 at a high school. She brings current curriculum knowledge and creative teaching approaches to her children’s classes, making learning engaging, relevant, and enjoyable.
Outside the studio, Berenice enjoys time with family and friends, live music, travel, and long days at the beach, simple pleasures that continually inspire her creative life.
Dianne Peach
Ceramics – Wheel-Throwing & Hand-Building
Dianne Peach has been a practicing ceramicist since the mid-1960s and has over a decade of experience tutoring at BIA. She is also an on-call tutor for Flying Arts Alliance, Ceramic Arts Queensland, and various workshops. A master of both wheel-throwing and hand-building, Dianne creates innovative, meticulously crafted works using a variety of clays, construction techniques, and firing methods. She has held 10 solo exhibitions, including her 2025 show at BIA, and has exhibited widely in group shows nationally and internationally. Her work is held in major Australian galleries, public and private collections, and collections overseas in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, England, and China.
Dianne is a founding member of Ceramic Arts Queensland and was named a Ceramic Icon by Crafts Queensland in 2004. She has also served on the Crafts Board of the Australia Council and contributes extensively to teaching, reviewing, judging, and advocacy within the arts community.
Her teaching philosophy combines modern techniques with traditional methods, empowering students to become confident, independent makers. She emphasizes sustainable practice and encourages recycling in the studio, reflecting her commitment to both creativity and care for the planet.
Website: www.diannepeach.com.au
Renata Fojtikova
Silversmithing & Jewellery Design
Renata Fojtikova is a multi-award-winning silversmith with over 20 years of experience as both an artist and educator. She holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Art (2014) and has taught at institutions including Queensland College of Art, the Brisbane Institute of Art, Flying Arts Alliance, and TAFE Queensland. Her teaching philosophy centres on making creative learning accessible to everyone, with courses designed for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
Renata is the founder of Lexi de Cora, her Brisbane-based studio, where she creates custom jewellery and gallery-ready pieces. Her work blends traditional metals and techniques with innovative approaches, resulting in elegant and boundary-defying designs.
Instagram: @lexidecora
Website & Shops: Blog | Artisan | Northsite
Catherine Large
Jewellery, Silversmithing & Enamelling
Catherine Large is a contemporary jeweller and silversmith whose practice spans jewellery, silversmithing and enamelling. She began her studies in Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT before completing a Visual Arts degree at Sydney College of the Arts and later earned a Master of Visual Art (Research) from the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.
Throughout her career, Catherine has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally, undertaking commissions, receiving numerous grants, and supplying work to galleries and retail outlets. Alongside her professional practice, she has taught at universities and art institutions, sharing her deep technical knowledge and passion for craft-based making.
Catherine believes everyone has the capacity to learn and strives to communicate clearly and effectively, adapting her teaching to each student’s learning style.
Outside the studio, she enjoys walking, swimming, sewing, cooking, gardening, and travelling.
www.catherinelarge.com
Instagram: @catherinelarge_jeweller
Kirstin Farr
Ceramics – Functional & Sculptural
Kirstin Farr is a dedicated ceramicist working across both functional tableware and sculptural pieces, with a particular interest in recycling clay and exploring the unique variations each batch brings. Originally trained as a graphic designer, she discovered clay through formal study at TAFE, completing a Wheel Throwing course and Certificate II in Ceramics, where she received the Student Award for Ceramics. Her practice has been shaped further through mentorships, masterclasses, and workshops both locally and internationally.
Kirstin’s teaching philosophy combines strong technical foundations with encouragement to experiment, helping students develop their own style in a relaxed and supportive environment. She also enjoys mentoring through her work with Ceramic Arts Queensland and previous roles curating exhibitions and supporting arts communities.
Her studio practice balances utility and expression, creating works that delight in their functional purpose while embracing artistic exploration. She has exhibited widely, winning multiple awards including Best Overall at Gold Coast Potters, and her work is enjoyed in homes around the world.
Outside the studio, Kirstin finds inspiration and calm in activities that reconnect her with nature and creativity. She enjoys ocean swimming, bike riding, pilates, bushwalking, and camping. She also lives by a simple ritual: two morning coffees and an afternoon beer, and life is good.
Deborah Cavallaro
Painting, Drawing & Art for Children
Deborah Cavallaro is a painter and illustrator with a background in sound sculpture. She holds a Diploma of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Queensland College of Art, a Graduate Diploma of Teaching from QUT, and a Master of Fine Arts in Sound Sculpture. Influential teachers include Chris McKimmie, Pat Hoffie, John Rigby, William Robinson, and John Armstrong.
Deborah’s teaching fosters a warm, supportive, and inspiring environment for artists of all levels. She combines live demonstrations, engaging painting exercises, and curated presentations on contemporary artists to help students build technical skills and confidence. Her students often praise her insightful feedback, practical guidance, and exceptional sense of colour, which supports them in developing their unique creative voices.
Her artistic practice spans painting, illustration, and sound-based work. She has exhibited in numerous galleries, composed and performed with bands such as The Golden Circles, Dragster, and Wondrous Fair, and created sound sculptures featured on SBS’s Nest program. Deborah is currently focused on painting that sits between the abstract and representational.
Outside the studio, Deborah enjoys teaching children’s art classes, giving piano lessons, engaging with music, and connecting with people.
Geoffrey Harley
Painting and Figure Drawing
Geoffrey Harley is an experienced visual artist and educator with a Bachelor of Education, a Graduate Certificate in TESOL, and a Master of Arts. He has taught high school art since 1979, both in Queensland and internationally across eight countries, enriching his practice with techniques such as Chinese ink painting in Beijing and glasswork in Istanbul.
Geoffrey’s teaching philosophy emphasises experimentation, observation, and intuition, encouraging students to explore multiple approaches to develop their own creative solutions. He fosters collaboration and dialogue in the studio through shared ideas and constructive critiques, tailoring guidance to each student’s individual skills and interests.
His artistic practice focuses on painting and drawing, exploring texture, “happy accidents,” and the integration of experimental elements into cohesive compositions. He also enjoys working in clay and occasionally in silversmithing, reflecting a lifelong passion for diverse media.
Outside the studio, Geoffrey spends time tending bonsai, gardening, travelling, and pursuing his love of continual learning. These interests nurture his creativity and artistic curiosity.
Allin Dwyer
Metal Sculpture
Allin Dwyer is a practising artist working in both sculpture and painting, with a focus on welded steel, cast bronze, and oils. He holds a Diploma of Art from QIT and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Queensland, and studied ceramics under Carl McConnell and bronze casting at Canberra and Launceston Colleges of Art.
For 25 years, Allin lectured in Art at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus, where he played a key role in developing the sculpture program. His works are represented in private collections as well as the QUT collection, and he has exhibited widely in both group and solo shows, including the Blake Prize, Wynne Prize, Townsville Art Gallery, Newcastle Art Gallery, and QUT Art Gallery.
With more than 60 years of teaching experience, Allin continues to love sharing his passion for art. He encourages students to look openly at the arts, to see colour, to feel form, and to have the courage to “do their own thing.” His teaching focuses on fostering expression and creativity, while equipping students with the technical skills needed to bring their ideas to life. Students appreciate his supportive style and his ability to balance guidance with freedom.
Dr Maree Cunnington
Painting and Mixed Media
Maree is a multi-disciplinary artist who has worked across the fields of Design, Photography, Music, Performance, and Academia. Passionate about communication, she encourages students to expand their individual art practice through art historical research. Classes are enjoyable, hands-on, and include exposure to a breadth of images to inspire the imagination.
Stephen Newton
Sculpture & Drawing – Assemblage, Carving & Mixed Media
Stephen Newton is a Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist working across sculpture and drawing, specialising in assemblage, carving, construction, and hybrid mixed-media practices using both found and natural materials. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (Queensland College of Art), a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, a Master of Arts (QUT), and completed his PhD at the Australian National University in 2019, focusing on landscape, material, memory, and place in contemporary sculptural practice.
As an educator, Stephen values patience, inclusivity, and shared learning. His hands-on demonstrations and supportive approach encourage students to experiment, explore materials, and develop their own creative paths.
With over 35 years of practice, Stephen has exhibited widely and undertaken major outdoor sculpture commissions across Australia. He has collaborated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, working on commissions, workshops, and cultural projects. A lifelong enthusiast of wood especially found and driftwood, he views it as a metaphor for the passage of time and creative transformation.
Outside the studio, Stephen enjoys playing guitar, singing, cooking for his family, camping, beach outings, and exploring community, culture, and coffee.
Website: www.newtonsculpture.com
Instagram: @newtonsculpture
Svetlana Trefilova
Painting and Gel Printmaking
Svetlana Trefilova is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice explores abstracts, expressive landscapes, and the microscopic structures of Australian native plants. She completed her Doctor of Visual Arts at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University in 2023, researching collaborative practices between art and science and investigating the visible and hidden aspects of the natural world.
Svetlana’s teaching philosophy centres on curiosity, experimentation, and critical thinking. She creates a supportive and open studio environment where students are encouraged to explore, take creative risks, and develop their own artistic voice. Her approach draws from her own research and practice, helping students translate careful observation into expressive, creative outcomes.
Her artistic practice spans solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally, with recent solo shows including Invisibleness (2025, Metcalfe Gallery, BIA) and Diffusion (2023, Webb Gallery, QCA). She has also published widely on art-science collaborations and environmental themes, contributing to both academic and creative discourse.
Svetlana works primarily in watercolour and acrylics, drawn to their fluidity, spontaneity, and chance effects. Her work is inspired by nature and native plant structures, exploring both the visible and hidden aspects of the world.
Outside the studio, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, sewing, and spending time with family and friends.
Website: https://svetlana.id.au/
Facebook: Svetlana Trefilova
Nancy Brown
Printmaking and Fabric Printing
Nancy Brown is a multi-disciplinary printmaker and experienced arts educator. After completing her studies at the National Art School, she received an Australia Council community arts traineeship and has since been involved in community arts projects including murals, mosaics, textiles, and built-in arts installations. She began tutoring at Warringah Printmakers Studio, introducing safer printmaking processes, and has taught at Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, and through Flying Arts workshops across regional Queensland.
Nancy has been a tutor at Brisbane Institute of Art since 2003, guiding students in both traditional and experimental printmaking techniques. Her own practice explores printmaking on alternative surfaces, always seeking new aesthetic possibilities. She also takes great pleasure in facilitating arts activities for schools, festivals, and regional galleries.
Website: nancybrownartist.com
Instagram: @nancybrownarts
Nicole Sylvestre
Drawing and Painting
Nicole Sylvestre holds an Associate Diploma in Ceramics, an Associate Diploma in Sculpture, and a Bachelor of Visual Arts. Her practice is guided by chance and the meditative rhythm of repetition. To repeat can comfort, numb, or enhance. An emotional and tactile connection leads to adding, editing, and layering. A sense of poetry settles in and hopefully lures the viewer into looking deeper and continuing the conversation.
Nicole has created installations including Poppy Field at the Queensland Art Gallery. In her classes she encourages students to see anew and to approach materials with curiosity, openness, and fresh eyes. Students have described Nicole’s imaginative mind as both an artist and tutor as invigorating and inspiring.
BIA membership is open to anyone interested in the activities of the Institute and supportive of its aims and objectives. Annual Membership is $25.00.
The intention of BIA membership is to encourage association, involvement with, and support for the aims of the Institute. The aim of membership is to develop a participatory group of members ie. interested ‘friends’ of the BIA who wish to contribute to the organization as well as participate in their own social/artistic functions.
* Unlimited Studio Access for Members
If you are a BIA Member you can purchase unlimited studio access at the minimal cost of $165 per person per semester (up to 20 weeks).. Come by yourself or arrange a group to meet on a particular day and time. Usage must be within office hours (unless otherwise arranged) but there is no other limit to the number of hours or days. Classes and workshops are given priority access to the use of the studios but studio access members are welcome to use the remaining available studio spaces for their own work. This applies to all studio areas (conditions apply). To take advantage of this opportunity you must be a BIA member ($25, 1 March to 28 February annually). On purchasing studio access your membership card will be endorsed for the semester.
Office hours – 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm Friday.
Present your BIA membership card at any of the following places and you will receive the indicated discount.
Established by artist Mervyn Moriarty in 1971, the Institute was registered as the not for profit association, ‘Brisbane Institute of Art’ (BIA) in 1988. In 1998, long time BIA student and supporter, Nona Metcalfe generously bequeathed her estate to the Institute. A building fund was immediately formed and the BIA Fund was established to receive tax deductible donations. In 1999, a long term lease was negotiated with Brisbane City Council on a building at Windsor. To maximize the benefit of donated funds, a dollar for dollar Cultural Facilities Grant was sought from Arts Queensland and the building was refurbished to accommodate art studios, workshops and gallery.
Assisted by the fund, BIA has developed into a major community arts organization in Brisbane. The annual arts program now provides part-time employment for over thirty artists and more than one thousand people participate in the art classes and workshops. The Institute also supports a busy exhibition program. Donations have been utilized to purchase equipment, refurbish studios and establish the Nona Metcalfe gallery.
Donations to the BIA Fund are tax deductible and the fund monies are used to develop the facilities and arts program. If you would like to discuss making a donation to the BIA Fund, please contact us on 3857 5377 or make a donation online.
