Trafalgar local, Amy Chaplain, and David Shields, Principal at Thorpdale Primary School, are collaborating to exhibit their talented artworks at the Thorpdale Traveller’s Rest Hotel and Distillery this month.
Amy is also excited to launch her first picture story book, Waldo Armadillo, filled with her delicate watercolour paintings.
Since graduating from visual arts at Monash University’s Gippsland campus, David has travelled the world and built his career as a teacher, but he never really stopped drawing and painting.
Over the past 15 years in particular, art has become an important part of his life outside of work.
He’s sold more than 80 original paintings and hundreds of prints over that time, but strangely enough, has never actually stopped and developed a complete body of work specifically to exhibit.
He feels extremely lucky to have landed the Principal job at Thorpdale Primary School, only 20 minutes from his hometown of Churchill.
There are plenty of things he loves about working there: the kids,families, community and staff – but one of the unexpected ones has been the drive to and from work each day through what he thinks is some of the most beautiful countryside in Australia.
That drive became the inspiration for the series of artworks he will display.
“I didn’t really want to paint perfect postcard images of the district. Instead, the works are a bit of a journey through the ordinary, everyday Thorpdale landscape – the roads, paddocks, potato fields, creeks, buildings and little landmarks that locals probably drive past hundreds of times.”
“I’ve tried to capture some of the raw beauty in those familiar scenes and hopefully make people look at them a little differently.”
He feels fortunate to work alongside Amy Chaplain at the school and is in awe of her delicate touch with watercolour.
When Amy invited him to exhibit some work with her at the Thorpdale pub, it gave him the push he needed to finally develop a proper series.
“I loved the idea of creating a collection that could honour the town and district, while also challenging me to keep developing as a landscape painter.”
Amy is a proud local teacher’s aide and front of house staff member at Thorpdale’s primary school and Traveller’s Rest Hotel.
Outside of her busy careers, she is also a self-taught artist and now officially a self -published author of picture storybook, Waldo Armadillo.
Amy has been drawing and painting since the age of four and has enjoyed doing creative projects such as classroom magazines, a YouTube series, and personalised cards throughout primary and secondary school.
As a young adult, Amy started up a small hobby business, Amylee Gifts, and began taking on commissions for personalised watercolour cards and paintings for local (and sometimes national) buyers.
She received an honourable mention in the 2026 Field and Game Australian Duck Stamp Competition.
After years of hand painting all the illustrations herself and producing an entertaining manuscript, Amy has finally published her rhythmic tale of Waldo, an armadillo who struggles to hunt around the beautiful Amazon Rainforest.
This adorable character was derived from her pets’ personalities and the manuscript itself holds humour inspired by her students over her nine years of working in education.
This duo exhibition shall take place from Sunday, 22 November for four weeks.
Both Amy and David will be present throughout selected days of the exhibition for meet and greets, and book signings.
“A huge thank you goes out to Jill and Sean at the Travellers Rest Hotel for making this exhibition possible,” said Amy.
David and Amy will be present for the official opening on 22 November from 12pm to 2pm
The exhibition will be open Thursday through Sunday from 12pm to 2pm.
Upon request, the exhibition can also be viewed during dinner service between 5:30pm and 8pm from Thursday through Saturday.
