Lyn Fairlie
Lyn Fairlie Gallery Manager & Artist Lyn Fairlie joined Art West in 2018 and currently serves as the Gallery Co-Manager, coordinating and administering every exhibition in her spare time—while also working at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland.
Born in Canberra in 1961, Lyn discovered her love for art later in life, first picking up a spray can at the age of 56. What began with spray paint quickly evolved into a passion for multiple mediums. She explored watercolours, pastels, acrylic pouring, and airbrushing - self taught at first from YouTube, then later studying with artists such as Tony White, Jeannie Cotter, Pat Hall, and Shellee Carruthers.
She continues to develop her skills in airbrush art through formal training with Stephanie Trainter from Ventura Airbrush Systems and is currently undertaking an online drawing program, Draw Awesome with Phil Davies, which has deeply influenced her approach to art. Lyn works across a wide range of mediums—watercolour, pastels, airbrush, pan pastels, acrylics, and more - refusing to limit herself to just one.
Her subjects are equally varied, though she’s especially drawn to birds, animals, flowers, sunsets, and waterfalls. She gravitates toward realism, cheerfully admitting that “her brain just doesn’t work in abstract.” In 2023, Lyn exhibited at the Brookfield Art Show for the first time, where her acrylic painting of a Glossy Black Cockatoo was awarded Highly Commended and sold during the event. Many of her works have since found new homes, and she describes each sale as a humbling moment—especially when she’s there to witness it.
Lyn also shares her love of art through teaching. She regularly conducts workshops at the Gallery across a range of mediums, including painting your own watercolour Christmas cards and various acrylic painting sessions. Her workshops are friendly, practical, and designed to help others explore their own creative journey.

