Stuart McMillan

Stuart (Stu) McMillan is an interdisciplinary artist, facilitator and maker currently living on Yinggarda Country in Carnarvon, Western Australia. Working across a range of creative mediums, including sculpture, photography, printmaking, painting, performance and installation, Stu's practice explores narratives of human connection to nature and the environment, with a particular focus on our role as caretakers and custodians of the natural world.

Merging physical experience with a sense of spiritual kinship to the environment, Stu’s practice seeks to share and inspire a sense of purpose, connection and awe. In times of environmental uncertainty and upheaval, his work offers a calm pause - a moment for contemplation, reflection and inspiration - inviting us to consider the wonder of the Earth’s harmonious rhythms and cycles, and our place within this.

About Stuart’s Creative Workshops

Community members, friends and visitors are invited to join Stu for to take part in a creative workshop happening at various locations across the North Midlands. There’s no cost or booking required for any of these activities, just come along.

Join Stu for one—or several—of his creative workshops, where we’ll use art paper, inks, charcoal and natural found materials to make artworks that express our connection to nature, and the places and communities we call home. With Stu’s supportive guidance we’ll play, print and experiment letting nature’s wonder and our experiences of the natural world unfold through marks, textures and images.

A caterpillar or beetle discovered in the garden, lizards hiding in the local scrub, hunting for crabs, or hours spent beachcombing for an intriguing shell, sponge or other treasure. These small discoveries can hold a sense of awe and wonder that stays with us. Stuart invites you to share these memories and stories through creative play and art-making. Come along and see where the stories take you. We look forward to seeing you!

Coorow
Wednesday 4 November from 9am to 10am @ Wicked Wednesdays for Mum's & Bubs at The Co-op Gallery at 3 Main Street, Coorow.

Perenjori
Tuesday 10 November from 10am to 1pm (including morning tea) at the RSL Hall on Russell Street, Perenjori.

Carnamah
Sunday 15 November from 11am to 2pm (including a light lunch) at The Exchange at 4 Macpherson Street, Carnamah.

Eneabba
Drop-in workshop on Saturday 17th October any time between 9am and 1pm at the Eneabba Merry Markets at the Eneabba Recreational & Sporting Club at 20 Eneabba Drive, Eneabba.

Three Springs
Drop-in workshop on Saturday 24th October any time between 1pm and 5pm at the Family Day On The Green event at 14 Mayrhofer Street, Three Springs.

Now showing at The Bank Gallery in Carnamah

"I have seen beautiful sunrises and sunsets from living and working in the remote bush of Western Australia and have a love of taking photos for people to see how amazing our country really is. I am an amateur photographer and rely on my Samsung S24 phone to take these magnificent photos.

Every day is different, and I don't edit the photos I take – they are exactly how I see them through my phone. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. We have million-dollar views here in Carnamah and across Australia, and I have been fortunate to be able to get some amazing canvas prints done of what I see."

Now showing at The Co-op Gallery in Coorow

Throughout 2021 and 2022 a collective conversation began in the North Midlands. Our communities, along with an artist from each region of Western Australia, explored a profound truth, reflecting on the natural rhythms of regional life: the inevitable cycles of drought and rain, hardship and prosperity, boom and bust. outside of our control.

It became clear that the one constant throughout our personal and collective lives is change, and that we all, inevitably, ebb and flow.

What began as the Ebb+Flow exhibition at The Bank Gallery in Carnamah during 2022 soon evolved into a far-reaching conversation across the state. Between 2023 and 2025, the exhibition toured Western Australia, sparking powerful conversations. Every community visited created unique artwork in response to the theme, beautifully weaving their stories into the artistic tapestry begun in the North Midlands.

This year, our shared story comes together. We are bursting with pride to invite you to the grand launch of the Ebb+Flow statewide exhibition.

The exhibition is a testament to shared ownership, co-created by artists from across the state through conversations sparked in the North Midlands that extended out to each region of WA.

Ebb+Flow Statewide Exhibition Communities and Artists

• Deidre Robb with Waroona in the Peel region

• Siobhan Kelley with Port Hedland and South Hedland in the Pilbara

• Nyree-Jane Taylor of Piawanning in the Wheatbelt region

• Martine Perret with Margaret River in the South West region

• Mikaela Castledine of Kalamunda in Perth metro

• Lynda Howitt in Northampton and Geraldton in the Mid West region

• Naomie Hatherley with Broome in the Kimberley region

• Peter Hill with Northcliffe in the South West region

• Sarah-Jayne Eeles with Boulder and Coolgardie in the Goldfields region

• Janine McCrum with Denmark in the Great Southern region
  
  

This is more than an exhibition. It is a celebration of our shared spirit and a chance to celebrate some of the art and community that binds us together as Western Australians.

The Co-op Gallery is located at 3 Main Street in Coorow and is open from 9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Now Showing at The Exchange+Gallery in Mingenew

Stu is a multidisciplinary artist currently based on Yinggarda country in Carnarvon. He will be in residence with North Midlands Project during October and November.

Stu works in a broad range of mediums, including sculpture, photography, printmaking, painting, performance, and installation. His practice intertwines narratives of human connection to nature and the environment, with a focus on us being the caretakers or custodians of this earth. 

"Merging these connections of my physical reality and experiences of spiritual kinship I feel I have to the natural world, I wish to share the wonder and awe I experience with others. In times of environmental uncertainty and upheaval, my work allows for a calm pause and contemplation. All is not lost in a world where we endear and revel to be inspired by the true wonder of the earth's harmonious rhythms and cycles."

The Exchange+Gallery located at 50 Midlands Road, Mingenew is open Tuesday - Friday 9am to 2pm

Coming to Geraldton in late September

Featuring works by Mid West artists Tymia Councillor, Mina Elliott, William Pike, Cam Fitzgerald, Mark Miragliotta, Helen Reynolds, Leah Vlatko, artists of Yamaji Art, and audio-visual content by Amanda Forward.

Showcasing dedications to Country and its seasons, the cyclical journey of the natural world, odes to the ocean, to soil, and warnings of how humans can impact the ecology of our planet, borrowing from the past to re-interpret an artificially intelligent future, bees, honey and pollination, fibres and skins, seed pods, ochres, the connective tissues that weave the past and the future together.

This exhibition, a collaboration between Geraldton Regional Art Gallery and North Midlands Project, was curated by Wiggy Mitsuda under the mentorship of Briony Bray. It is part of the Regional Arts Triennial of exhibitions across regional Western Australia under the common overarching theme of Radical Futures.

Mid West locations and dates for Bold Intentions:

CARNAMAH - Amangu Country -The Bank Gallery @ 8 Macpherson St
14 February - 17 April. 10am to 3pm Tuesday to Friday

MINGENEW - Amangu  Wattandee Country - Exchange+Gallery, 50 Midlands Rd
24 April - 30 June. 9am to 3pm Monday through to Friday

NORTHAMPTON - Nhanda Country -The Hampton Gallery @ 189 Hampton Rd
4 July - 31 July

GERALDTON - Yamaji Country - GRAG @ 24 Chapman Rd
26 September - 22 November 

2025 to 2028 is going to be an IMMERSIVE time in the North Midlands with the 'Threads in Common' exploring community. Through a focus on wellness, culture and creative arts, the aim is to foster healthy conversations about community, identity, diversity, and inclusion. Weaving together our Threads in Common, nurturing respect and connection through understanding. 

We recognise that threads, when joined together, engender strength and buoyancy. Understanding, Exploring and Embracing who we are as individuals and a community benefits our wellbeing and our social fabric. This, in turn, fosters and supports local networks for personal pride, a sense of place and belonging. The impact lies in a greater appreciation of, and harmonious relationships between, people from all backgrounds, cultures, gender, skills, and life experiences in our communities.

Over the next few years, we'll be gaining a deeper understanding of...

2025 - Ourselves, our identity, personal pride
2026 - Others, culture, traditions, language, gender, skills and life experiences
2027/28 - Community, ever changing, through difference we are stronger

• Click here to find out more 

While The Exchange currently hosts a variety of community groups, artists-in-residence, seasonal markets and events, we want to ensure this space is evolving in the right direction. We're seeking your guidance to improve and refine how the space is used. Whether you're a creator, a worker, or a local looking for a place to relax, your feedback will directly shape the future of The Exchange in Carnamah.

Help decide what's next. There are four quick questions that can be found here... What's Next!!

 To get the ideas flowing, here is what’s waiting for you inside (all at no cost):

🏛️ Large indoor space + toilets for events and activities 

🎨 Art Studios + supplies for you or a group to access

🎭 Professional Stage ready for local talent and performance

🎥 Indoor Film Area with deck chairs for the ultimate cinema vibe

💻 Computer Lab for work, study and upskilling

🪴 Garden + Indoor Lounge Areas for relaxing, meetings and connecting

📚 Book and Boardgame Exchange to swap or donate items

📶 Free 24-hour WiFi for online connection (inside and in the garden area)

YOUnity, an inspiring new initiative to amplify the voices of LGBTIQA+ young people living in regional and remote Western Australia. This free program, offered in 26 communities across the state, invites young people aged 13 to 24 to take part in storytelling through immersive art, cultural, and wellness experiences, fostering a strong sense of belonging and pride.

YOUnity isn’t just about creativity; it’s a project with impact, expressed through a celebration of works, advocacy, and legacy.

Showcase — YOUnity will culminate at the 2026 Perth Pridefest, featuring regional LGBTIQA+ youth voices, a large-scale collaborative flag artwork, and two songs composed by West Australian Opera.

Advocacy — Beyond creativity, the program gives young people a platform to spark change, influence conversations, and shape inclusive policies. In partnership with Youth Pride Network, their ideas and artworks will be transformed into meaningful advocacy.

Legacy — In collaboration with the Australian Museums and Galleries Association, creative works and reflections will enter collections across WA, preserving and amplifying regional LGBTIQA+ voices while strengthening visibility and cultural recognition.

YOUnity, supported by Healthway and the Government of Western Australia, was developed by North Midlands Project in collaboration with Youth Pride Network, and key partners West Australian Opera and the Australian Museums and Galleries Association. 

• Click here to find out more