sharing the adventure of visual arts
EAST GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY
Starting the SkillUP Journey - an update
“I love coming here. It’s the best part of my week”
Grace - SkillUp participant
The SkillUP Youth Arts program began in March 2026, with 25 participants exploring a range of visual art mediums and techniques, alongside professional and creative industry development. The dedication of the cohort has been remarkable, with students attending two evenings a week from 4pm to 7pm after a full day of work or school.
Above: SkillUp Crew – Tuesday night cohort
Building Strong Foundations
We are incredibly fortunate to have accomplished artist and educator Lee Nickless coordinating and teaching the program. Lee is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to develop their skills, build confidence and explore their potential as artists, collaborators and contributors to the arts industry.
Jaxon working on their charcoal portrait.
Finished work - that won the East Gippsland Shire Council Youth Art Prize 2026!
Above: Jaxon working on their charcoal portrait, alongside the finished work that won the 2026 East Gippsland Shire Council Youth Art Prize.
From the very beginning Lee has been teaching students core arts skills—from the basics of setting up an easel, learning about different types of paper, different grades of charcoal to the unique properties of painting with acrylics or oils. Participants have also received their own individual toolboxes which contain a variety of artist grade materials.
Above: Collaborative drawing project
Thank You to TAFE Gippsland
We’ve had incredible support from TAFE Gippsland and the awesome team in the Koorie Unit. The program is being delivered in their studio rooms, where the shared space creates a dynamic, supportive, and collaborative environment.
It’s an ideal space for the SkillUP program, and TAFE Gippsland educator Alan Solomon has generously provided space for storing equipment and student artworks.
Without their support, the SkillUP program would not have been able to run, so we can’t thank the team at TAFE Gippsland and the Koorie Unit enough for helping make the program possible.
Above: Melissa (Grace photo bombing in the background)
“I’ve met a lot of new people and made good friends, and I get to actually learn about art. We’ve got actual professional’s helping us and we’ve been given really good materials.”
- Grace
Above: Nichole working on a charcoal portrait
“I like having access to all the art supplies that we get to use because some of the stuff that we use here I don’t own or have the opportunity to use in my own time.”
- Nichole
Above: Participants drawing and painting their still life
In the Studio
In the Studio
Above: Jessica and Eliza
“SkillUP is a third place other than work and home where I have met new people. I can express myself creatively every week and have fun.” Jessica
In the Studio
In the Studio
Above: Ruby and Nichole
Guest Artist’s program
Lee invited four guest artists who are experts in their fields: John McKenzie, Jenny Toye, Jill Hermans and Areka Brown. Three of those guest artists make a living from their creative practice and, as part of their workshops, shared insights into their careers and businesses with participants. Understanding the business side of a real-life career in the arts is an important part of working in the creative industries.
Digital Illustration and Character Design with John McKenzie
John McKenzie is a digital illustrator and creator of RPG’s (Role Playing Games). With support from the Local Learning and Employment Network, Lee borrowed tablets for students to use during John’s workshops.
Above: John MacKenzie teaching SkillUP students
Digital Illustration and Character Design with John McKenzie
Digital Illustration and Character Design with John McKenzie
Above left: Grace and Keara working on their character design. Above right: Laura and her character design
John challenged the students in each group to create an original character. Each cohort then voted for their favourite character. You can view the winning characters by Michael and Sam below.
Winning character by Michael
Winning character by Sam
3D Sculpture with guest artist Jenny Toye
Above: Jenny Toye and Ruby
Jenny Toye is primarily a sculptor and a remarkable artist who, throughout her career, has worked as an art educator and been a cornerstone of the arts community for many years.
Jenny taught participants how to create sculptures using basic, easily accessible materials. The techniques shared during the workshop were designed to give students the skills and confidence to continue working in 3D beyond the program. She designed a project inspired by the student’s interest in cosplay - the art of dressing up using costumes and accessories. Students were challenged to design and create a headpiece using helmets as a base structure, transforming them into fabulous characters and original artworks.
3D Sculpture with guest artist Jenny Toye
3D Sculpture with guest artist Jenny Toye
3D Sculpture with guest artist Jenny Toye
3D Sculpture with guest artist Jenny Toye
Metal and jewellery with guest artist Jill Hermans
Jill Hermans is a renowned jeweller and metalsmith who has exhibitsnationally and internationally. Jill introduced students to Shibuichi, a traditional Japanese metal alloy made from copper and silver. Using a torch and specialist jewellery-making tools, students learnt how to manipulate the metal into different shapes and sizes, before using the torch to create a variety of beautiful colours on the surface.
Below: Metal and jewellery in the studio with Jill
Metal and jewellery with guest artist Jill Hermans
Metal and jewellery with guest artist Jill Hermans
Metal and jewellery with guest artist Jill Hermans
Metal and jewellery with guest artist Jill Hermans
Lee Nickless - SkillUP Program Coordinator
“SkillUp has been a deeply rewarding experience as an educator. It’s allowed me to bring together two decades of teaching professional arts practice and marginalised youth into a pedagogy shaped directly by the participants themselves.
The SkillUp cohort are an exceptionally inclusive, accepting group, and the way they support one another has been remarkable. Watching relationships form, confidence grow, and young people feel permission to be fully themselves has been one of the program’s greatest successes.
Artistically, they have exceeded every expectation. Their talent, commitment, and ability to execute their ideas has inspired not only each other but also the guest artists involved in the program. SkillUp has become far more than a foundation course in creative skills, it has created purpose, meaning, and genuine value for everyone who has taken part.”
- Lee Nickless
Above: Lee Nickless and Blake
Participants are now focused on completing artworks to exhibit in their upcoming SkillUP 2026 group exhibition.
Lee is teaching students the skills needed to make their work exhibition-ready, which includes:
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Photographing artworks for records and folios.
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Writing artist statements.
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Framing works professionally using recycled and pre-made frames, including matting, D-rings and wiring.
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Learning how to price their artwork.
With mentorship from Lee and East Gippsland Art Gallery team, participants will curate their group exhibition in the large West Gallery, exploring creative ways to present their work. Professional exhibition installer Rod Callaghan will also mentor participants in hanging 2D works to industry best practice.
To expand beyond traditional approaches to visual art, participants are also working collaboratively to design immersive installations for the Gallery’s two smaller spaces—the Vault and Sideshow Gallery—creating environments that will reflect a shared idea.
From a SkillUP parent
“The generosity, dedication, and encouragement of everyone at SkillUP has nurtured my child’s natural talent and passion in a respectful, safe, and professional environment… There is incredible growth that can happen when a young person feels safe: safe to fail, safe to learn, safe to get back up and keep going, and safe to be themselves.”
Katharine Bentick (Jaxon’s mum)
🎬 SkillUp participant Jaxon explains how the program has benefited them >> https://vimeo.com/1217607751/fec824be14?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Thanks to all our supporters
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the SkillUp Youth Arts Program in 2026, particularly our major sponsor, the Gippsland Community Foundation. This program has no ongoing funding and has relied on community donors and individual supporters. Every donation, big or small, made this program free and accessible, giving young people the opportunity to explore their creativity, develop their skills and build a creative future. Donations are 100% tax deductible - click here for how to donate
Major Sponsor
Studio Supporter
Eileen and Bruce Hurley
Deirdre and Tom Jack
Program Partner
Robbie Dezwarts
Gary Kelly
Kaye Munro
Jo Porter
Platinum Sponsor
Anonymous
Mentor Maker
Catherine Bainbridge
Dawn and Chris Stubbs
Jenny Toye
Mendie Urie
Arts Advocate
Gavin Roberts
Cindy Tong
Rotary Club of Bairnsdale-Sunrise
SkillUP 2026 supporters
Advocates
Expressions of Interest open for 2027 (subject to funding)
To register your expression of interest for 2027: download the form below. Email it to admin@eastgippslandartgallery.org.au
Or you can drop it into to East Gippsland Art Gallery at 2 Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale. For more info call us on 03 5153 1988
East Gippsland Art Gallery is committed to providing a child safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children and young people who participate in our programs. For more information see our commitment to Child Safety, Equity and Inclusion HERE
