The Great Barrier Reef has long been an inspiration for artists from all over the world. But we can't recall an artist being this submerged in their work.

Local painter, Stephanie Milne, hopped on board Synergy II (who sponsored her trip) recently to photograph some “temporary installations” which are to be part of an exhibition at the Cairns Regional Gallery.

Oil paintings inspired by the reef were taken underwater and positioned very carefully into the reef environment, then photographed by local photographer Chris 'Fluffy' Jones.

“I have been inspired by the marine environment for many years and much of my work is directly influenced by my diving experiences," Ms Milne explained.

"I often sketch when I scuba dive and given the opportunity I would spend every day out on the reef.

"I love combining techniques and mediums in my work...I love the complexity of combining a variety of techniques into one finished piece," she said.


Artist Stephanie Milne.

Ms Milne said that experiencing artwork is similar to the experience of appreciating what the reef has to offer.

"Some of the works are so full of information that the eye does not know where to look, in the same way that sometimes you do not know where to look when you are on the reef.

"Other pieces have a central focus with lots of detail going on everywhere else, but your eye still wants to look at the central focus. This is similar to the way your attention can be diverted when diving - you see something amazing, but you
still try to take in everything around it."

Ms Milne said man's impact on the environment is an underlying theme of her work, and acknowledged that her recent work may cause some controversy.

"Obviously the Great Barrier Reef is a protected environment so we have to be mindful of our impact whenever we visit the reef which is why the work is placed very carefully into the location, photographed and then immediately removed.

"I am not sure how the local residents felt about the paintings but I hope they would not have objected.”

Stephanie’s exhibition 'Reef Cosmos' opens on September 10 at the Cairns Regional Gallery in The Loft and runs until October 15.

Tell us what you think of Stephanie's art.