Transforming the Outback with John Murray

Lightning Ridge artist John Murray with some painted opal mining agitators, part of a growing project bringing other artists and new street art into the town. Photo: Beverley Callow

Story and photos by Beverley Callow

John Murray has joined the board of Outback Arts this year and plans to continue transforming the outback through art.

Long before John Murray arrived in Lightning Ridge, he was curious about the things people overlooked.

He studied at the National Art School in Sydney, painted the crowded kitchens and backyards of his student days in Redfern, travelled through India, Afghanistan and Europe, and continued drawing wherever he went.

For several years he moved away from painting, partly due to discouragement from others. But after returning to Sydney and painting life-sized caricatures of porters on the walls of Sydney Airport, he found his way back to art.

John Murray arrived in Lightning Ridge in 1983 and built a rough camp and studio with shade cloth walls, plastic lining and a gravel floor. […]

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