HARBOUR FLORA

MICHAEL REID NORTHERN BEACHES

JULY 2026

In Autumn this year I began walking the Sydney Harbour trails as a weekly ritual — moving from Spit to Manly, Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay and on to Balmoral — seeking both exercise and mental clarity. Along these foreshore tracks I observed the native flora growing through sandstone, leaf litter and coastal scrub, becoming increasingly aware of the shifting colours and textures of the season. Walking through the landscape brought a sense of liberation and peace. The act of walking the trails along the harbour’s edge sharpened my attention to the resilience and sculptural beauty of the native plants: banksias a glow against dry earth and clumps of delicate flannel flowers emerging through tangled bushland. Back in the studio, these observations became a small collection of oil pastel artworks shaped by memory, movement and atmosphere. Using a palette of earthy reds, browns and ochres contrasting with jewel-like bursts of colour, these artworks explore the native flowers I encountered on the Sydney Harbour foreshore walking trails.