Entertainment
28 May, 2026
Rainforests on canvas
MISSION Beach artist Rebecca Arnall Smith is soon to unveil her vibrant rainforest inspired works in her first solo exhibition ‘Paintings from Paradise’ opening on Friday 5 June at Bingil Bay Café and curated by Bernard Kasey.
Fresh from her success in this month’s Bernard +10 exhibition at Mission Arts, Arnall Smith is stepping into the spotlight with a collection that celebrates the colour, abundance and wild beauty of the tropical rainforest she calls home.
“My connection with the rainforest and all its creatures is what inspires my art,” she said.
“I love nature, the wild creatures and birds and the rainforest, so I’m trying to express my love for all those in vivid paintings.”
Ms Smith said she was especially excited to share her ‘jungle paintings’ with people who might never have experienced the richness of tropical environments.
“Eventually, I plan to travel exhibitions of my jungle paintings, as well as have my own art gallery.”
Art runs deep in her family. Both her parents studied art, her grandfather John Rule was a well-known illustrator and comic strip artist and her two daughters also show artistic talent.
Born in Sydney, Ms Smith lived in England, Thailand and Western Australia before settling in Mission Beach in the late 1980s.
As a teenager she took weekly lessons with an English impressionist painter, later studying fine art and art history at the University of the Creative Arts in England.
Influenced by European artist Henri Rousseau and inspired by her travels through Asia, she developed a fascination with tropical vegetation and scenery.
Her large scale oil paintings often about 2m wide are designed to immerse viewers, giving the sense of stepping directly into the rainforest.
She paints each canvas section by section, ‘like a tapestry,’ ensuring every part can stand alone as its own artwork while contributing to the whole.
Ms Smith has previously exhibited and sold work across Far North Queensland, including Kuranda, the Atherton Tablelands, Cairns and Mission Beach. Paintings from Paradise marks a significant milestone in her artistic journey.
The exhibition opening at Bingil Bay Café on 5 June kicks off at 4pm with live music.
Read More: Mission Beach