Shacking up in Byron for a few weeks, Thomas Campbell has been doing what so many artists, musicians and performers come to this special part of the world to do….create.

A self-taught painter, sculpture, photographer and filmmaker, Thomas Campbell was raised on the DIY aesthetic of the early 1980s skateboarding culture. Campbell began documenting surfing culture in the late 1990s through both photography and film. Campbell’s surfing photography has long been admired by fellow surfers for its lack of gloss finish; unlike most, he eschews the familiar fish-eye shots or tightly cropped land angles.

Over here as an Artist in Residency, Campbell has used his time to channel his creativity. The program, generously put on by Art Park/Atlantic Guesthouses  has given him and so far, five others the opportunity to enjoy the uniqueness and beauty that so many appreciate about Byron while providing a space away from life’s everyday distractions that can hamper the creative process.

His exhibition Slide Your Brains Out kicked off on the starry evening of October 15, with a few thirst quenchers enjoyed whilst taking in a selection of his outstanding and unique works. Conveniently located just up the road from the brewery, we have made the most of casting our eyes over his visual compositions, allowing us to drift off to the beach, if only for that brief moment.

To our selfish delight, and just your luck, after bunkering down for the past couple of weeks, Campbell’s new art show is about to kick off:

Residential Debree

Friday 25 October, from 5pm at Art Park .

… A good way to slide into the weekend.

Photos: All photos are courtesy of Art Park