ARTSHOP proudly sponsors the 2026 Toowoomba Studio Art Trail
There is something wonderful about stepping inside an artist’s studio. It reveals a side of artmaking that an exhibition at a gallery cannot easily show.
Here, the work is made. Pieces in progress sit alongside finished works, sketches, materials, tools and the traces of earlier projects — and you can meet the artist and hear about their practice.
That experience is at the heart of the Toowoomba Studio Art Trail, which ARTSHOP is delighted to support again this year.
Each September, the Trail offers a rare invitation into the private studios where our region’s artists reflect, imagine and create.
ARTSHOP’s connection to the Trail grows from long‑standing relationships with artists and collectors, shaped by our values of craftsmanship, our appreciation of visual beauty and our deep respect for artmakers. Established in 1990, ARTSHOP's roots in the region are well established, and supporting the Trail is part of our enduring commitment to Toowoomba’s cultural life.
As our director, Cherylyn Russell, reflects, “ARTSHOP Fine Custom Picture Framing and Art Restoration is proud to once again sponsor the Toowoomba Studio Art Trail. In doing so, we celebrate this group of committed artisans who continue to contribute so much to Southeast Queensland culture and to art investors and collectors.”
For ARTSHOP, supporting the arts reflects our belief in the value of expression, connection and culture, and the ways art enriches communities, preserves stories and brings people together. Across the Darling Downs, the arts sector shapes identity, draws cultural visitors and strengthens the regional economy. It also reflects the values we share with our artists — care, longevity and work made to last.
The Toowoomba Studio Art Trail began in 2023, when it was founded by Cindy MacDonald and Jeanne Cotter as a way for local artists to share both their work and their working environments.
What began as a single weekend is now a much‑loved fixture of Toowoomba’s cultural calendar. Now in its fourth year, the Trail welcomes visitors into 20 home studios across our creative city, where 23 artists open their working spaces to the public, with each studio hosting one or two makers.
It is a free, self‑drive tour. Across the Trail, you will find painting, ceramics, printmaking, textiles and sculpture, offering a glimpse into the breadth of art being made across our region.
For collectors, there is the opportunity to see an artist’s work in the context of its making, learn more about their practice and perhaps discover an original piece to acquire.
For members of organisations, experiences like these can show how art helps shape purposeful workplace environments that nurture culture, connection and creative thinking — spaces that spark fresh ideas, something we witness daily in our work with artists and makers.
But you do not need to be a collector — everyone can explore, meet the artists and see the stories behind finished works.
The Trail takes place throughout September, alongside the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and the RME Downlands Art Exhibition. For the full 2026 program, participating artists, studio locations, open dates and Trail map, visit the Toowoomba Studio Art Trail website: www.toowoombastudioarttrail.com.au
What you see in an artist’s studio is the journey behind the finished work: the experimentation, the persistence, the materials and the personal expression that make it theirs. For more than thirty years, ARTSHOP has been trusted with the conservation‑standard framing of this kind of work. It’s an ongoing partnership built on deep respect and admiration for the creative process, and one that continues to bring fresh delight for our team.
Supporting the Trail is a natural extension of our commitment to the makers who shape the Darling Downs.
We look forward to seeing the studio doors open across Toowoomba this September.
