Two Armidale artists whose creative journeys have grown side-by-side in the New England are preparing for a significant hometown moment when their new exhibition Tinted opens at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) later this month.
The two-person exhibition by Janna Hayes and Phoebe Hillard will open on Friday, 20 March, and run through to 26 April, bringing together two distinctive artistic practices shaped by years of friendship, critique and encouragement.
While their methods differ dramatically, the artists share a long-running creative dialogue – something that sits at the heart of the exhibition.
Tinted explores a simple but thought-provoking idea: how colour and perspective influence the way we see and interpret the world around us.
For Hayes, the concept began with an experiment in colour.
“Tinted started as a colour constraint but became a way to talk about perspective: the same view, different feeling,” she said.
“I allowed colour to do what memory does: quietly alter the scene.”
Hillard sees the idea in similarly atmospheric terms.
“Tinted is neither positive nor negative. It’s an atmosphere – a feeling – expressed through colour and subject,” she said.
The exhibition places two contrasting approaches to image-making in conversation. Hayes’ paintings are instinctual and expressive, built through layered applications of bitumen and oils on paper, while Hillard’s work is precise and technically disciplined, developed through detailed drawing and many hours of pastel painting.
Despite these differences, both artists draw inspiration from the landscapes and environments of the New England region.
Hayes’ process often begins outdoors, gathering reference material through hikes, photographs and sketches of local places before returning to the studio.
From there, she pins paper to the wall and builds a composition using bitumen diluted with turpentine to create sepia tones and shadow. Layers of oil paint are gradually added as each stage dries, sometimes accompanied by marks made with oil sticks and pastels.
The process can take time and patience, and Hayes often works on multiple pieces at once while layers dry, occasionally even hiding works away so they can be revisited later with fresh eyes.
Hillard’s process, meanwhile, follows a more methodical path.
She begins with sourcing subjects and photographing them before refining compositions through careful drawing and editing. The final works emerge through many hours of pastel painting, gradually building colour and detail.
Like many artists, she is familiar with what she calls the “ugly stage”, when a work temporarily looks far from complete before eventually resolving.
Though their approaches differ, the artists say their creative friendship has been one of the most important influences on their practice.
“Phoebe has a way of offering honest critique that helps me see new opportunities in my work — without losing the feeling of unconditional support,” Hayes said.
Hillard agrees, describing their friendship as something rare.
“I don’t underestimate how lucky I am to have found a friend like Janna,” she said.
“These friendships are lucky to pop up a few times in a lifetime.”
Both artists have also benefited from the Helen Dangar Bursary, a NERAM initiative that supports emerging artists and honours one of the region’s important cultural figures.
The bursary helped Hayes travel to Japan in 2024 to attend the Kawashima Textile School, while Hillard used the support to travel to Canada in 2025 to attend an international pastel artists conference.
The opportunity to now present a joint exhibition at their hometown museum feels like a full-circle moment for both artists.
“Showing at NERAM feels like a real marker of growth, not just as individuals, but as part of a local arts community that has backed us, challenged us, and made space for us,” Hayes said.
The exhibition also reflects the role Armidale’s creative community has played in shaping both artists’ careers.
For Hillard, who previously worked at NERAM as Front of House Coordinator, the gallery itself was an important source of inspiration.
Surrounded by exhibitions and working closely with artists and visitors, she was encouraged to pursue her own creative practice full time.
Now, the pair will see their work displayed together in the same space — offering visitors the chance to experience two different ways of seeing the same world.
Through gestural oil landscapes and carefully rendered pastel images, Tinted asks viewers to consider how memory, emotion and personal perspective subtly influence the stories we tell ourselves about place.
The exhibition will officially open at NERAM at 6pm on Friday 20 March, with everyone welcome to attend.
Works will also be available for purchase through the gallery.
As two local artists presenting their work at the region’s leading gallery, Hayes and Hillard hope the exhibition will resonate with audiences who share their connection to the New England landscape.
After years of learning, experimenting and supporting one another’s creative growth, Tinted represents not just an exhibition, but a celebration of artistic friendship — and the many ways our perspectives colour what we see.
Tinted will be exhibited at NERAM from 20 March to 26 April with an opening event to be held from 6pm on 20 March. All are welcome.
Like what you’re reading? Support New England Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now