There is an offering for every set of eyes, with the Forrester Gallery’s newest round of exhibitions.

One of the Forrester’s favourite’s Ewan McDougall bursts back into the gallery, with his sixth solo exhibition there, Too Much Monkey Business. 

Ewan’s array of large-scale oil paintings have taken over the downstairs galleries in his signature riot of vibrancy, humour, and cavorting.

“The essence of my painting is partying, without the chemical assistance, and I love it,” Ewan says.

Born in Wellington, Ewan’s family later moved to Ōamaru where he was educated at Waitaki Boys’ High School and taught art by Colin Wheeler. 

After studying in Dunedin, he travelled and worked overseas, returning to Aotearoa in the 1980s.

He now lives in Whaka Oho Rahi Broad Bay with his wife Sarah, where he paints full-time.

“The working man’s life is never far away,” Sarah says of her husband’s work. “Nor the party animals that work hard and play hard ... It’s a 24/7 party-up with both sun and moon shining”.

Ewan’s works are on display until April 7.

Ōamaru artist John Baster's work Connel and Clowes is part of his exhibition of miniature models.

Around the corner in the intimate Vault Gallery, local artist John Baster examines Ōamaru’s early Italianate townscape designs through a series of miniature models in The Miniatures of the Grand Tour. 

With each model meticulously studied, sketched, measured, planned, and crafted, John’s

miniatures display the beauty of Ōamaru’s heritage with his perfectionist’s eye.

His work is being exhibited until March 10.

Upstairs in the Community Gallery from February 3, local artist Jeff Armstrong’s Imago Dei contemplates metaphysical questions about the nature of being, personhood and the I/Thou relationship. The theme is highlighted in the artist/subject encounter through a series of oil portraits, on display until April 7.

Geoff, by local artist Jeff Armstrong, is part of his exhibition of portraits, Imago Dei.

Aiming to “honour the innate mystery, dignity and beauty of the subjects’ essential personhood”, Jeff’s beautiful portraits of friends and family are stunning to behold.

And finally, celebrating the ever-changing seasons and the power they wield; our newest collection show Hour after Hour explores our local landscapes through a selection of artworks from the Forrester Gallery’s permanent collection.

With an array of landscapes from local and national artists such as Colin Wheeler, Colin McCahon, Hilda Edgar, Grahame Sydney, Doris Lusk and Eion Shanks, experience nature’s transformation as you walk through this exhibition, opening on Saturday (February 3) and running until April 7.

Doris Lusk's 1945 painting No 2 Blossom Tree Hagley Park, is part of the Forrester's collection of landscapes on display in an exhibition called Hour after Hour.