Collection: KIM RAYNER - Immerse: The dance of light and the coming of form

In IMMERSE, artist Kim Rayner explores the threshold where coastal rainforest meets the radiant light of the Coral Sea. This body of work reflects a deep and ongoing relationship with the northern Queensland landscape—an experience of living within it, observing it intimately, and translating its visual and emotional impact through paint.

Rayner’s practice is rooted in close attention to light, form, and the atmospheric qualities of the tropical rainforest. Her paintings respond to the complexity of this environment: the dense, moisture-laden air; the shifting patterns of light that guide or halt movement through the forest; and the rich green tapestry of buttress roots, vines, and the wandering forms of strangler figs.

The exhibition comprises four oil paintings on Belgian linen and two oil on oak-framed board, all developed in her studio nestled in the rainforest above the palm-fringed beaches of Mission Beach. Immersed in this environment daily, Rayner draws, observes, and paints on location, bringing sketches and impressions back to the studio where they evolve into large-scale works. Her process is a translation of lived experience—an invitation for viewers to sense the beauty and intricacy of the North through her eyes.