Mandurah artist named as latest Local Legend

A leader and driving force behind Mandurah's arts community has been named the town's latest Local Legend.

Barb Thoms was awarded last month for her commitment and passion towards promoting and supporting local arts, including her role in creating Australia’s biggest outdoor painting group, based in Mandurah. 

A talented and experienced artist herself, Barb is a founding member of the Mandurah Plein Air Artists Inc, along with fellow artist Leon Holmes.

The group has grown from just a handful of artists in 2011 to become one of the most dynamic art groups south of Perth, and with more than 80 members is the largest of its kind in Australia. 

Mandurah’s Plein Air artists meet every Tuesday to paint outdoors and enjoy the company of like-minded people. 

In 2019, Barb co-founded the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival, an annual event which has become Australia’s largest outdoor painting festival attracting hundreds of local, national and international artists each year. 

Mayor Rhys Williams said Barb was a forward-thinking leader of the region’s art scene, having worked on numerous art projects, programs and festivals over the years that progress and profile local artists, and helped put Mandurah’s artistic prowess on the map. 

“Barb is an energetic and innovative community leader who has done so much to showcase our amazing and talented local artists over the years, we are lucky to have her drive and enthusiasm bringing people together,” Mayor Williams said. 

“Throughout Australia, Mandurah is well known as the outdoor painting capital, with people coming to Mandurah from far and wide to paint our picturesque scenery and landscapes. Mandurah has become a must-see destination for artists, and Barb has been instrumental in making that happen. 

“A huge thank you to Barb for her work and sharing her love of painting, which has strengthened the art and culture offerings of our city and fostered connections to the wider art scene.” 

From 2011 to 2018, Barb worked at the City of Mandurah as an Arts Development Officer, working on a range of projects that created important platforms for local and visiting artists, including the Stretch Arts Festival. 

She was also instrumental in leading and initiating the Wearable Art Mandurah competition, which started in 2011 as a small community event with just 11 local artists creating works of art on the body.

Over the years, the competition grew into one of Australia’s premier wearable art events, attracting hundreds of local, national and international entrants and culminating in the impressive Wearable Art Mandurah Showcase event.