Boggabri artist's first exhibition to open on Friday | Video

Her exhibition, The Beauty in Adamantine, will officially open at 6pm, with drinks and canapes provided.

Ms McAllan has been practicing and refining her art for three years and has quickly gained recognition in the area for her whimsical contemporary arts practice.

Gunnedah Shire Council’s arts and cultural officer, Lauren Mackley, said she was looking forward to showcasing the “colourful works of an up-and-coming local artist”.

“Tammey’s works are colourful, gestural and bold and always signed with Tammey’s quirky signature “Love Tammey”,” she said.

Ms McAllan said Ms Mackley saw some of her works in Juliette Scott’s studio and approached her about doing an exhibition.

“I’ve just been madly painting for the last three months,” Ms McAllan said.

“Before the exhibition I’d probably literally painted 10 paintings in all my life.

“I’d only ever done them for friends and family previously.”

Ms McAllan said she didn’t anticipate having her own exhibition.

“In all honesty, I would never have thought I was capable or talented enough to have an exhibition,” she said.

“It’s literally only because of Lauren and she loved my work and she said I could do it and here I am. 

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s one of those things you do what you love and if you do it from the right place, it can be a success.”

The artist said about 25 of her works would go on display.

“The exhibition, I’ve called it The Beauty in Adamantine. It’s reminding people to see the beauty in everything they see,” she said.

When describing the works, Ms McAllan said they were “anything colourful” and “certainly not dull”.

“If you live life dull, that’s all you’re going to get,” she said.

“I’ve generally done animals and abstract ones; whatever inspires me on the day.

“I actually do like a lot of my pieces. I’m actually even surprising myself.”

Ms McAllan has previously exhibited in the gallery’s Strength and Diversity Exhibition, Gunnedah Arts and Ceramics Exhibition, Gunnedah Show and Boggabri Arts and Crafts Exhibition.

She spent many years in finance before exploring her creative streak and recently moved back to her childhood home of Boggabri where she has been instrumental in establishing a community arts shed with Boggabri Hardware Store, Men’s Shed and the Lions Club.

Ms McAllan said the arts shed was an old shearing shed, which was originally behind the hardware store. It has been moved into Merton Street and will display local works.

“It was Jo from the hardware shop, a dream she had, and we started chatting about it 12 months ago,” she said.

“It looks amazing. We’ll hopefully have it up and running for the spring fair.

“The aim is to get people to Boggabri.”

The Beauty in Adamantine exhibition will be on display at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery until October 15.