Toowoomba artist launching new Milton and King wallpaper pieces at Downlands Art Exhibition

Toowoomba artist Anna Battle has become locally renowned for her floral pieces. Now her work will be heading across the world thanks to another city business.

WALL TO WORLD: Toowoomba artist Anna Battle has joined forces with local wallpaper printing company Milton and King to launch a range of new designs, which will line walls across North America and Europe.

It’s currently hanging in the Graham Centre at Downlands College right now, but Anna Battle’s artwork will soon find itself on the walls of homes across North America and Europe.

The Toowoomba artist will launch her signature range of luxury wallpaper at the annual RME Downlands Art Exhibition on Friday night.

The wallpaper, produced by Toowoomba company Milton and King, will be on display at the massive exhibition along with Ms Battle’s original pieces.

“They (owners Bryce and Richard Capp) were looking for an artist who was known for florals and I’ve certainly been painting florals for a number of years,” she said.

“I worked with Bryce to produce artwork that was large enough to do a repeat pattern.

“I’m looking forward to seeing it on walls all over the world.”

The Downlands alumni, who graduated during the art exhibition’s inaugural year, said she was thrilled to be invited to participate by curator Evan Hollis.

“Evan is very in tune with how art can work in our lives — I think art should be useful,” Ms Battle said.

“He really wanted to showcase that this is taking fine original art and bringing it to the masses.

“He’s a brilliant curator in the way that he tells a story with the exhibition, so I’m delighted to be part of it after all these years.”

This year’s exhibition will feature 850 pieces from across Australia, covering paint, ceramics, metal, stone, pencil, photography, prints, and millinery among others.

Mr Hollis said the collection took nearly 12 months to put together, likening it to the repainting of the Storey Bridge in that he would start almost immediately after the previous event ended.

Pieces range from $10 right through to $175,000, with the event featuring recognised names for serious art collectors.

Victorian painter Kathy Ellem will be the feature artist at the exhibition.

Funds raised will go to the P and F Downlands College Association.

The gala opening on Friday start from 7pm, with limited tickets still available.

The exhibition is then open daily from 10am to 4pm until September 25.

For more information, call Downlands College on 4690 9500 or head to www.downlandsart.com.