YAVA is thrilled to be able to move beyond the gallery walls and curate spaces in our partners’ venues. The third of our winery venues is Steels Gate. Throughout Summer we welcome you to enjoy the works of Bev Hardidge and Graeme Hardidge

Bev is a mixed media artist renowned for her vibrant, layered paintings and recent foray into pottery, drawing inspiration from her picturesque environment. Her studio, nestled among trees overlooking The Queen Bee Garden, reflects her deep connection to nature, with themes of gardens, landscapes, flowers, and trees dominating her works. Transitioning from painting with acrylics and inks to pottery, she transformed a former garage into the Chook Shed Pottery studio, experimenting with various clays and techniques. Bev finds inspiration in her rustic garden and the surrounding valley, aiming to evoke joy, curiosity, and an appreciation for colour interaction through her art. She actively participates in the Yarra Valley Open Studios, sharing her passion and creations with a broader audience.

Graeme, an artist residing in the Yarra Valley, draws inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty to create sculptures representing Australian birds, trees, and flora. He is particularly adept at reusing and repurposing discarded materials such as automotive parts, old farm implements, and scrap metal, blending them with weathered timber, bushwood, and glass. His skills in welding, blacksmithing, and bush carpentry enable him to craft these unique sculptures. Collaborations with his wife Bev, who specializes in painting and ceramics, enrich some of his works. Graeme regularly showcases his creations at the Yarra Valley Open Studios, where his innovative approach to art is displayed.