Modern Watercolour

For artist Kelly-Anne Love, watercolour is anything but timid. While many think of the medium as soft and restrained, Kelly-Anne pushes it to its expressive limits. At once fluid and unpredictable, her paintings are alive with energy and detail. She embraces the drips, splashes, and bleeding edges of pigment, letting the water carry colour into unexpected directions before guiding it with her careful hand. This fearless approach has established her as one of the most exciting names in contemporary Australian watercolour art, and her paintings continue to captivate audiences at KAB Gallery Terrigal on the Central Coast, in Sydney, and internationally.

Collectors are drawn to her work because it radiates life. From playful cockatoos and gentle whales to intricate portraits of endangered animals, every piece holds a story within it. Her style balances precision with spontaneity, making her paintings feel more like living moments than static images. Her creative process reflects the philosophy that imperfection is not something to be corrected, but something to be celebrated — an idea that resonates strongly with art lovers and collectors across Australia. We are always excited to see her newest pieces ready from the studio and it is a joy to see them here in the gallery framed and ready for collectors to take home. 

This week three standout paintings by Kelly-Anne Love travelled to a collector the United States, a testament to her growing international following. The “Modern Mermaid”, framed in contemporary black under perspex, is a large-scale statement artwork filled with rich, opaque watercolour layers and striking details. The mermaid’s tattoos carry a modern twist, referencing social media culture, while her shimmering tail is painted with good attention to scale and colour. In the distance, a ship sails away — a hidden narrative that rewards closer viewing. Alongside this, the much-admired Owl painting, a finalist at the Hunters Hill Art Prize, also crossed the Pacific, as did “Rhino Love”, a contemporary depiction of a rhino set against a teal background that radiates both strength and serenity.

Back at the Central Coast art gallery, Kelly-Anne recently delivered a new painting titled “Turtle”. The work shows a large turtle swimming gracefully through water with soft jellyfish hovering in the background. What makes this piece particularly special is her command of the watercolour medium — the turtle is painted with bold intensity and rich detail, while the background is softened with transparent washes, allowing the sea life to appear ethereal and dreamlike. It’s a perfect example of her ability to play with contrasts of opacity and translucency.

Turtle

Kelly-Anne Love’s art has been exhibited widely across Australia, with her unique watercolour approach gaining recognition in major exhibitions, art prizes, and even Australian pop culture. From her playful Redheads Matchbox reimaginings to brand collaborations with Six Strings Brewing, her creativity extends well beyond the gallery walls.

Looking ahead, her artworks will soon be displayed at our newest space, KAB Gallery Sydney at Neutral Bay, opening October 2025. This exciting relocation from Pymble marks a new chapter for Sydney art collectors, offering a fresh gallery destination on the North Shore. Visitors to Neutral Bay will be able to view and acquire original contemporary Australian watercolour paintings by Kelly-Anne Love and other leading artists in a fantastic new setting.

For those searching for an art gallery on the Central Coast or planning to visit our Neutral Bay art gallery in Sydney, Kelly-Anne Love’s work is not to be missed. Whether it’s the boldness of a large-scale mermaid, the delicate movement of a swimming turtle, or the strength of a rhino set against teal, her art carries an undeniable vitality that appeals to collectors locally and internationally.

About the author

Kerry-Anne Blanket

Director & Curator - KAB Gallery

KAB Gallery’s Kerry-Anne Blanket holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and two Masters degrees (Hons) from the University of Sydney. With an extensive career in art education along with the management of museums and investment art galleries, Kerry-Anne can offer premier art consulting to her clients and source specially requested works. 

She has a keen eye for detail, comprehensive art market knowledge and a love of all things beautiful. Kerry-Anne works directly with artists and collectors alike to curate interesting and eclectic exhibitions.