![\"Mr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/821fc628d7a855d5e4937b5691abd84d847993c0.jpg\")
Camera IconMr Candy got into watercolours because of his love of landscape. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\nMore than 150 of Australia\u2019s best watercolorists will have works on display as a big exhibition of the fluid and delicate artform returns to Perth.<\/p>\n
Artists from across Australia and 15 other countries, including France, Italy and Singapore, have been invited to the upcoming International Watercolour Exhibition in Fremantle. They will help take over the streets of the port city to share their diverse work with the community.<\/p>\n
The group will be headlined by Australian watercolourist and Watercolour Society of Victoria past president Rob Candy, who will host five days of workshops and a public watercolour demonstration at Fremantle Prison.<\/p>\n
The acclaimed artist, who is attending the event for the first time, and said he couldn\u2019t wait to be involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe general feeling in the public is that watercolours are great, but we they don\u2019t see enough of them. Most of the major galleries don\u2019t display watercolours because there used to be this idea that watercolours were fugitive and faded over time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the major opportunities where people can come and see 150 of the best watercolours from around the world exhibiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Camera IconMr Candy got into watercolours because of his love of landscape. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n
Aside from the art display, the highly interactive exhibition will also include a \u2018try me\u2019 table for the public, live demonstrations and prizes.<\/p>\n
Candy will also lead a group around Fremantle, guiding them in painting \u2018plein air\u2019, meaning in the open air.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of learning is seeing somebody do it and that encourages others. I know there\u2019s events at the exhibition to get people to try it, so it\u2019s a great chance for hands-on experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFremantle has some amazing locations. We\u2019ll go down to the harbour and paint boats, and another day I\u2019ll do urban scenes and we\u2019ll go down past the cafes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a lover of landscape, and I just love being outside. Painting allows me to sit outside and appreciate, whether I\u2019m looking at a beach or a mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anybody can attend Candy\u2019s public art demonstration on Friday from 10am to 12pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to make it a learning experience for everybody, and explain as much as I can of what I\u2019m doing. Everybody\u2019s approach to watercolour is different. It\u2019s not a matter of hiding your secrets, it\u2019s about the process and showing people how the process operates,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/823546fc78496db073b838155b26ec1464673e94.jpg\")
Camera IconAustralian watercolourist Rob Candy will conduct workshops and host a public demonstration as part of the biennial International Watercolour Exhibition. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n
The international exhibition will showcase a wide range of artistic styles and cultural perspectives.<\/p>\n
Travel is also a significant part of Candy\u2019s creative process, and allows him to observe different environments and paint when the inspiration strikes.<\/p>\n
His first solo exhibition came from travelling to Normandy in France in 2003. He has since taken numerous groups on watercolour tours through China, the Balkans, Vietnam, India and Thailand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI paint on planes, trains and automobiles. Wherever I am, I\u2019m painting. Watercolour is such a portable medium,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always challenging, because watercolour has its own personality. You try to master it, but it\u2019ll meld and mesh with other colours on the page, so you have to keep your eye on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Candy is also excited to be working alongside talented peers from around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a quality exhibition. You won\u2019t see better quality anywhere in Australia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like any art, it\u2019s a sharing and cohesive thing. We learn off each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
The artworks will be exhibited in Old Customs House until June 23, and are available for purchase.<\/p>\n