Toowoomba collector buys ex-Gatton painter’s artwork for $125k after piece languishes out of public eye

A Toowoomba art collector has picked up an ex-Gatton painter’s artwork for $125,000. But the painting’s future had was drastically different just 12 months ago.

SOLD: Toowoomba art collector Dale Miller (right) snapped up former Gatton artist Sharon Davson's Journeys in Belonging piece for $125,000, after the artwork was languishing in the store rooms of the Port Macquarie art gallery.

Sharon Davson’s artwork depicting director Baz Luhrmann’s handprint and signature was languishing away from the public eye last year, but a Toowoomba art collector has given it new life.

The former Gatton artist has sold her piece Journeys in Belonging to Dale Miller for $125,000, after it was originally gifted to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Ms Davson, whose paintings have sold for more than $1m in the past, gave the piece in June 2019 to be added to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s art collection.

The painting depicts relevant landmarks of Port Macquarie to go with the insignia of Luhrmann, who went to school in the area.

However, Ms Davson later found it was not on display at the gallery, with no reason given by the council for why it had been removed.

“At the time, I was quite distressed and depressed — then COVID-19 happened and the painting languished,” she said.

Mr Miller then caught wind of the piece and forked out the cash required to buy it off the council, something he said was money well spent.

“To buy a painting with such a unique history for only $125,000, well that was great,” he said.

“It includes an autographed handprint by Baz Luhrmann, whom Davson had met to paint his hand.”

Ms Davson said the piece would now head to gallery exhibitions across Australia so people could enjoy it.

“I’m borrowing the painting back to do an exhibition in South Australia,” she said.

The painting will then go on display at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, in the Davson Gallery.

Ms Davson said she was planning to move back to Gatton from the Hunter Valley in a few years.