MRROS Experience Creates Confidence

Open Studios Gives Artists Confidence to Turn Passion into Business

Many artists taking part in this year’s Margaret River Region Open Studios (MRROS) say participating in the event has helped them build confidence and turn what began as a hobby into a serious artistic practice.
Quindalup ceramicist Katherine Lethlean says taking part in MRROS was a turning point.
“Making the commitment to participate in the event gave me a focus and a purpose that I had not had as a hobby potter,” she said.
“It helped me really refine my practice, zero in on what it was that I wanted to do and deliver.”
Ms Lethlean credits MRROS with giving her the confidence to establish a professional studio, build a website and start treating her art as a business.
“It introduced me to my customers,” she said.
“It gave me the opportunity to meet them, talk with them, find out what they liked, how they responded to my work — what was working and what wasn’t. It gave me the chance to build those relationships, which helped me progress my practice.”
Open Studios helped Katherine develop a tangible customer base and provided invaluable market insight.
“Sitting down with my customers and learning what they responded to really helped me understand that I could take this much more seriously — that I could develop this into a viable artistic practice,” she said.
That confidence led her to move from rudimentary premises into a dedicated workshop and gallery space in Cowaramup.
“So now I have not only a workshop, but a gallery space that reflects the quality of my work.
“The Open Studios event was the catalyst to a big year for me. It helped me grow and realise I was part of something bigger — a creative community.”

Painter Tamika Hogan is another local artist preparing to move into her first commercial studio space.
Ms Hogan said MRROS has played a significant role in her artistic career.
“This will be my sixth year of Open Studios and once I found my niche it really took off for me,” she said.
“The event gave me a significant financial boost, some years making up to half of my annual income over the two weeks.
“I’ve often wondered how long it might have taken grow my practice if it wasn’t for MRROS. It’s fantastic for building my audience every year.”
Ms Hogan currently works from a small railway carriage studio on her parents’ property but is excited to be moving into a larger commercial studio gallery space in Cowaramup.
“I’ll have enough room for a gallery style display and all my work under one roof, which will create a very immersive space,” she said.
“Participating in Open Studios gave me the confidence and experience I needed to take my business to the next level. In the last three years it has become a full-time occupation, which is amazing.”
Ms Hogan paints large-scale coastal scenes in oil, capturing the light on granite and scrub and the vivid blues of the Indian Ocean. In recent work she has been exploring more inland landscapes, including the native Christmas trees and large grass trees.
As she prepares for her sixth Open Studios, she says the event is also about connection.
“I went through a seven-year creative block, so I love having conversations with other creators in that in-between place.
“And I love the chance to meet buyers firsthand.”

The Margaret River Region Open Studios event will run for 16 days from 12 to 27 September 2026, with artists local to the Busselton-Margaret River region opening their studios to the public.
Artists living in the City of Busselton or Shire of Augusta Margaret River are invited to apply to be part of the event.
The 2025 event recorded more than 100,000 studio visits and attracted around 15,000 visitors to the region over the 16 days.
Artists without a suitable studio space can be connected with a like-minded hosting venue.

Artist registrations are open until 31 March 2026 via www.mrropenstudios.com.au
For enquiries contact art@mrros.com.au or check the website mrropenstudios.com.au or via the event’s Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels.
Sponsorship enquiries are also welcome via art@mrros.com.au.

Media contact:
Donna Watson
0419 901229 or donna@lastsay.net.au