Born in the UK, now lives and works in St Georges Basin  (Jervis Bay), on the  NSW south coast as a painter, photographer and writer.
Founder/director of Jervis Bay Art Workshops 2009
Founder/director of Alison's Artworkshops at Jervis Bay 2014

Solo and 2-Person Exhibitions:

2024 'Thinking Inside the Box' at Olsen Annexe gallery, Sydney
2024 'Comfort  Zone' at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
2022 'Passionflower" at Project Gallery 90, Sydney
2021  'Same same but different..."still lifes and abstracts at Project Gallery 90
2020 Project Gallery 90 - still life works with Nic Mason 
2019"Still and Within" at Project Gallery 90, Sydney with Nic Mason
2018 "GLASS Works" at FORM studio and gallery, Queanbeyan.
2016 "STILL" Recent still life paintings at Weswal Gallery, Tamworth
2015/2016 "After Olley" Shoalhaven City Arts Centre & Regional Gallery
2013 Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral "Inside/Out"  with Richard Morecroft
2011 Glass Gallery, Milk Factory, Bowral  “Objective”
 2009  Locavore , Huskisson  “Everything...  and the Kitchen Sink” 
2007 Jervis Bay Kiosk, Huskisson “Mostly  Flowers” 
2006 Jervis Bay Kiosk, Huskisson “59  Apples…” 
2005 Jervis Bay Kiosk, Huskisson “Cut  from Above”  


Selected Group
& Joint Exhibitions

2025 Paper - works on paper group show at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
​2025 Epicurean - group show at Project Gallery, Sydney
2025 Works on Paper prize exhibition at SHAC - finalist
​2024 Summer Salon at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
​2024 - Portia Geach Memorial Award for female portraiture - Finalist
​2024 The Inty - Interiors Prize exhbition at Weswal Gallery, Tamworth - finalist
2024 Sydney Affordable Art Fair
​2023 Portia Geach Memorial Award for female portraiture - Finalist
​2023 "Entice" Group exhibition at Gallery Alchemy, Milton
​2023 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Prize 2023 - Fnialist
​2023 Milburn Art Prize for Landscape, Brisbane Institute of Art - Finalist
​2023 Works on Paper exhibition, Defiance Gallery Sydney
​2023 Feed the Soul at NERAM
​2023 'Shucked' Group exhibition Project Gallery 90
2023 Muswellbrook Works on Paper - Finalist
​2023 Dobell Drawing Prize - Finalist and Travelling Exhibition 2023-2025
​2022 Semi-Finalist Moran Portrait Prize
2022 Fisher's Ghost Art Prize - Finalist, Campbelltown Arts Centre
​2022 Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture - finalist
​2022 Waverley Art Prize - Finalist
2022 Still Life - group exhibition at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
​2022 Percival Portrait Prize - Finalist
​2022 The Painted Table - Group still life show at Grainger Gallery, Canberra
​2021 Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist
2021 Objets de la Vie Group still life show at Grainger Gallery, Canberra
​2021 Abstract 2021 at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
​2020 Salon Des Refuses (Archibald)
​2020 Kangaroo Valley Art Prize - Finalist
2020 John Copes Portrait Prize - Finalist
2020 Inside Out at the Milk Factory, Bowral
​2020 Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist
​2020 Norther Beaches Art Prize (online) - Finalist
2020 Gallipoli Art Prize - Finalist and Winner
​2019 Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist
​2019 Kickerbell Artists at Walcha Gallery of Art
2019 Salon Des Refuses (Archibald) 
2019 Gallipoli Art Prize - Finalist
2018 KAAF (Korean Australian Arts Foundation) Prize - Finalist
2018 "A Shared View" Group landscape show at WesWal Gallery, Tamworth
2018 NSW Parliament's Plein Air Painting Prize - finalist, Highly Commended
2018 Project Gallery 90, Sydney - group show
2018 "About Face" Group exhibition at Sheffer Gallery curated by Amber Creswell Bell
2018 The Archibald Prize at the ANGSW - Finalist
2018 "Off the Shelf and Beyond" The Moree Gallery
2018 The Gallipoli Art Prize, Sydney - Finalist
2018 The Percival Portrait Painting Prize - Finalist
2017 Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist
2017 30 x 30 Art Award, Art Piece Gallery - Finalist
2017 STILL - National Still Life Award - Finalist
2017  HOMESCAPES 3 person show at St Cloche, Paddington curated by Amber Creswell Bell
2017 Doug Moran Portrait Prize - semi-finalist
2017 Black Swan prize for portraiture (WA) - finalist
2017 NSW Parliament's Plein Air Painting Prize, Sydney - finalist
2017 Waverley Woollahra Art Prize, Sydney - Finalist
2017 The Gallipoli Art Prize, Sydney - Finalist
2017 'Where are they now?' Group show at Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral
2017 Kelton Plain Artist Residency exhibition at Raglan Gallery, through Defiance Gallery, Sydney
​2016 'Step up to the Plate' Ceramic show at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
2016 Korea-Australia Arts Foundation exhibition - finalist
2016 'The Nature of Things' 3-person show of still life paintings at FORM Gallery, Queanbeyan
2016 'Spring Fever' Group exhibition at Defiance Gallery, Sydney
2016 NSW Parliament's plein air painting prize 2016 - Finalist
2016 'Spineless' Group exhibition at Mister Jones, Bermagui
2016 The Gallipoli Art Prize - Finalist
2016 Summer Exhibition, The Milk Factory, Bowral
2015 The 50th Anniversary Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist
2015 The Gallipoli Art Prize - Finalist
2015 Artsite Gallery, Sydney - Group exhibition
2015 "Private Lives: The Artist as Collector" Group exhibition S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2014 Fishers Ghost Prize Exhibition, Campbelltown Arts Centre, - Winner Traditional section
2014 Shoalhaven Fine Art Gallery, Group exhibition
2014 "The Meaning of (still) Life" Defiance Gallery, Sydney
2014 "Stuck Together" Defiance Gallery,  Sydney
2014 NSW Parliament's Plein Air Painting Prize  - finalist
2014 Gallipoli Art Prize - Finalist
2014 'Animalia' International Print Exchange Exhibition at 'Il Bisonte' Florence, Italy  7-30 May
2014 Summer Exhibition at the Gate Gallery Wollombi (courtesy of Defiance Gallery Sydney)
2013 Eutick Memorial Still Life Award (EMSLA) Finalist, Coffs Harbour
2013 Still Life Show at the Gate Gallery Wollombi (courtesy of Defiance Gallery Sydney)
2013 'Animalia' Print Show, Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral
2013 Mosman Art Prize - Finalist
2013 Waverley Woollahra Art Prize - Finalist
2013 BDAS Pirtek Still Life Award - Finalist
2013 Alley Gallery Archies Portrait Prize - Highly commended
2013 "Please Be Seated" Defiance Gallery Sydney
2013 Cowra Calleen Award, Cowra - Finalist
2012 "Larapinta Trail Artists"  Shoalhaven City Arts Gallery
2012 Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Finalist , Coffs Harbour
2012 "Kitchen, Garden, Shed" Gallery East, Sydney
2012 "Great Unknown" Artsite Gallery, Sydney
2012 "Under a Grand" Rex-Livingston Gallery, Sydney
2012 Black Swan Portrait Prize - Finalist
2012 Mosman Art Prize –  Finalist
2012 BDAS Pirtek Still Life Prize –  Commended
 2012 Waverley Art Prize, Sydney – Winner, Works on Paper  Prize
 2012 “Larapinta  Exhibition”(travelling exhibition)  Moree Plains Regional Art  Gallery
 2011 “The  Larapinta Exhibition” Defiance Gallery,  Sydney
2011 Portia Geach Memorial Award - Finalist 
 2011 BDAS Pirtek Still Life Prize -  Commended
 2010 “NEW” – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery,  Bungendore
 2010 “A Meating  of Minds” – 2-person exhibition Shoalhaven City Arts  Centre
 2010 Stanthorpe Art Prize Exhibition –  Finalist
 2009 “Horse”  -Joint exhibition at Shoalhaven City Arts  Centre
 2009 BDAS Turnbull Prize –  Finalist
 2009 Mortimore Prize (Dubbo) – Finalist Still Life section
 2009 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize  - Touring exhibition
 2009 Shoalhaven Arts Society Exhibition – Winner Still  Life prize
 2009 Alvaro Still Life Prize – Highly commended
 2009 “Small is Beautiful” Pyrmont Art Festival/Tap  Gallery Sydney
 2009   Camberwell Prize Exhibition
 2008-9 Wollongong City Gallery 30th Anniversary  Exhibition
2008 Shoalhaven City Art Centre “Gender  Agenda” - figure paintings
2008 Mortimore Prize Exhibition -  Finalist
 2008 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize - “Celebrating Everyday  Things”
 2008 “Immersion  & Observation” - Still life at Jervis Bay  Kiosk
 2008 “Little Archies” - Winner portrait prize at Lady  Denman Museum
 2008 Stanthorpe Prize Exhibition -  Finalist
 2007 Whyalla Prize Exhibition -  Finalist
 2007 Lexus Mortimore Prize Exhibition -  Finalist
 2007   Meroogal Women's Arts Prize "Origins & Identity"- Highly Commended 
  2007 Shoalhaven Arts Society Prize – Winner Wray Owens prize
  2006 See Change  - Chooks
  2005 Fisher’s Ghost prize Campbelltown, Sydney -  Finalist
 2005 Canberra Art Prize - Finalist 
  2005 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize - “Pattern, Stitches and  Threads”
  
Residencies:

2024 Artist on board - Aurora Expeditions Arctic Expedition
2021 Seal Rocks Residency courtesy Defiance Gallery, Sydney and Richard Caldwell
​2017 Maffra Female Residency courtesy of Defiance Gallery Sydney
2014 Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence at Tweed Regional Gallery
2013 Kelton All-Female Art Residency, courtesy of Defiance Gallery, Sydney
2012 Kelton and Maffra Residency Cooma, courtesy Defiance Gallery,  Sydney
 2006  Bundanon Trust, Artist in Residence Programme 
 

Awards: 

2023 Shoalhaven Arts Board Grant
​2020 Winner, Gallipoli Art Prize, Sydney
​2020 NAVA Grant
2018 NSW Parliament's Plein Air Painting Prize - Highly Commended
2014 Winner, Traditional section Fisher's Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown, Sydney
2012 Winner, Works on Paper Prize, Waverley Art Prize,  Sydney
 2009 Winner, Still Life Section, Shoalhaven Art’s Prize,  Nowra
 2008 Winner, Wollongong Portrait prize, Wollongong City  Gallery
 2008 Winner “Little Archies” portrait prize at Lady  Denman Museum
 2007 Winner “Wray Owens Acrylic Prize” Shoalhaven Arts  Society 

Collections:

Shoalhaven Regional Gallery permanent collection
​Gallipoli Club, Sydney
​Lucio's Restaurant, Paddington, Sydney
Wray Owens Collection, Shoalhaven
Bundanon Collection, Shoalhaven
Kelton Collection, Cooma
National Gallery of Austalia, Canberra (as part of the Animalia print collection)
Nock Art Foundation, Hong Kong
Private collections throughout Australia, Asia, the UK and Europe.


Articles and publications:
Muswellbrook Art Prize 2023 in the Newcastle Herald
 https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8059624/muswellbrook-art-prize-finalists-announced/
​"Objets de la Vie' at Grainger Gallery has visual abundance" Peter Haynes review Canberra Times May 2021 www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7225757/a-celebration-of-everyday-objects/
"Intellectual Refuge from the ridiculous" Christopher Allen's review of the Salon Des Refuses 2020 in The Australian October 2020
Art Guide - Alison Mackay wins Gallipoli Art Prize with Breathe April 2020
‘Fireys’ heroism is unmasked’ Matthew Westwood The Australian (17 April 2020)
‘Firies inspire art prize winner’ South Coast Register front page Robert Crawford (22 April 2020)
‘RFS Heroes inspire Gallipoli Art Prize win’ Tiffanie Turbbull Canberra Times (17 April 2020)
‘Painting’s point a breathtaking coincidence’ Nick Galvin SMH (17 April 2020)
2018 'Examining our world in distinctly individual visual languages' Review of "GLASS Works" by Peter Haynes in SMH, Canberra Times, Brisbane Times 25 October 2108
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/act/examining-our-world-in-distinctly-individual-visual-languages-20181023-p50bgv.html
2018 'Welcome to our artistic diversity' Christopher Allen in The Australian (Archibald 2018)
2018 Quid Pro Quo for Local Artist (Archibald selection) - South Coast Register 11 May 2018
2017 South Coast Artist has $20,000 in her sights - South Coast Register 11th October 2017
2017 'Tragic Tale leads to Artistic Success' South Coast Register 12 April 2017
2016 ‘Still life paintings and natural world delight at Form Gallery in Queanbeyan’ Review by Peter Haynes SMH, The Age, Guardian, Canberra Times, Illawarra Mercury, South Coast Register, Courier, November 2016,
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/still-life-paintings-and-natural-world-delight-at-form-gallery-in-queanbeyan-20161110-gsm04z.html
 2016 "Jervis Bay brought to life in Sydney' South Coast Register August 2016
2016 "Exhibiting Pair Power" South Coast Register Jan 2016
2015 Creative Palette Magazine  "After Olley"
2015 South Coast Style Magazine "A Brush with Life" Summer 2015/6
2015 Artist Profile magazine  - Discovery
2014 The Australian online - Gallipoli Art Prize photo 
2014 The SMH online - Gallipoli Art Prize photo gallery 
2013 "Woollamia Artists Go West" South Coast Register and Nowra News
2012 "Artists in the Alice" South Coast Register
2012 "Desert landscapes visit the coast" South Coast Style magazine Summer 2012/13
2012 Australian Art Review 2012 Issue 33 “Portia Geach  Memorial Award”
2011 Sydney Morning Herald online September 2011 “From the  Waist Up” image
2009 “Artist exposes beauty in the ordinary” South Coast  Register Nov 09
2009 Wollongong City Gallery  30th Anniversary  catalogue 2008/9
2008 “Artist stripped of bare essentials” Illawarra Mercury  2008
2008  “Alison’s bared soul catches judges’ eye” South Coast  Register August 2008
2008  “In my shoes” publicity/entry form for Meroogal Women’s  Art Prize 2008
2008  “I am woman, see me paint” South Coast Register June  2008
 2006 “See Change at Worrowing” South Coast Register June  2006



Website:
www.alisonmackay.net
www.artworkshopsatjervisbay.com


 e-mail:  [email protected]