Our Newest Textural Beauty: Shelly Beach by Sally West at KAB Gallery

At KAB Gallery, we are thrilled to exhibit many unique works throughout the year. As we step into the new financial year here in Australia, the line-up of investment works is better than ever.

To start, I would like to introduce you to a large-scale painting by renowned artist Sally West. Known for her unique impasto style, Sally captures Manly’s beautiful Shelly Beach in a way that is both abstract and unmistakably vivid.

Sally West’s paintings are a celebration of texture, colour and the Australian landscape. Equipped with a palette knife and rich oil paints, she works alla prima (wet-on-wet) and creates textured surfaces which bring depth and dynamism to her work. Her method involves applying thick layers of paint to the canvas, resulting in a surface that is almost sculptural. When standing before her art viewers can really appreciate the varied light and angle of view through the strokes. Each glance offers something new to see.

It is interesting how many people love the impact of the way her works seem abstract up close, but as you step back the scenes become clear. Looking at her newest large-scale work “Shelly Beach”, you need only step back a short distance before the familiar and beautiful beach scene of Shelly Beach clearly emerges. This piece is a great example of her incredible ability to blend abstraction and realism, creating a scene with so much for the viewer to look at.

This painting beautifully depicts the Shelly Beach shoreline bustling with beachgoers. They are sunbaking, picnicking under their bright beach umbrellas and pop-up blue beach tents on the sands. Moving our gaze to the water, we see beachgoers swimming, snorkelling, and jet skiing in the coastal blue waters. Her use of iridescent greens throughout the blue paint of the water shows the water glistening and moving, inviting us to imagine the summery vibe of the day.

This is enhanced even further by the contrasting greenery on the shore. West has a great eye for composition, and has perfectly positioned the scene within the canvas to ensure the tall palms in the background draw the viewers eye across the work. The depth of the foliage is illustrated with a gorgeous deep contrasting green, offering a lush backdrop of trees to perfectly frame the beach scene. It is easy to see why West was inspired to paint the Shelly Beach subject and illustrate the tranquil yet vibrant atmosphere beachgoers enjoy there.

If you aren’t familiar with this Sydney beach gem, Shelly Beach is located within the Manly district. It is part of the protected marine reserve of Cabbage Tree Bay, adjacent to North Head and Fairy Bower. This haven for scuba divers and snorkelers features a vibrant underwater world equally as beautiful as the shore. While it is mostly shallow there are sections up to 12 meters deep.

When you visit our gallery in person, take a moment to admire Sally’s larger water studies on exhibition. Notice how she uses colour and strokes of paint to depict the water’s journey as it reaches the shore and flows back into the sea. These representations, though abstract up close, reveal the water’s intricate paths when viewed from a slight distance. This highlights her exceptional talent in capturing movement, and especially the movement of ocean waters.

“Shelly Beach” by Sally West is an excellent feature painting to invest in for your home or office. A painting to connect with, love and enjoy knowing you have purchased an original one-of-a-kind by a leader within the art world. Sally West is a prize winner and internationally coveted artist we are proud to represent at KAB Gallery. If you are lucky enough to live locally, take advantage of the opportunity to see the work in person, or if not let us help you remotely. We are just a video call away and ready to assist you. This is a primary market sale and comes with complementary valuation and a certificate of authenticity.   

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PAINTING

Visiting KAB Gallery
Whether you are an art enthusiast, a Manly local, or someone who holds a special place in their heart for Shelly Beach, Sally West’s paintings are a must-see. Visit us to experience her work firsthand and select a piece for your collection. I know you will adore the style and connect with her charming subjects even more in person. The gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday every week. It is closed most public holidays so visit this LINK to see more current information about trading days and times.

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.