Maree Kelly was born at Gunnedah in north western NSW. She has spent most of her life in the area, now living on a farming property just south of the small township of Curlewis.

The landscape of the Namoi and Mooki floodplains encompass rich tracts of farming country, ringed by rocky outcrops and low woodland forests. This scenery is a constant inspiration. Maree uses various media and techniques in her work, including oils, encaustic and oil pastels on canvas, as well as mixed media works on paper. Her subject matter is the ever changing landscape – the harshness of the colours in times of drought, the lush new growth after rain, the extreme seasons and weather patterns and even different times of the day.

Recent work has had increased focus on environmental issues with an emphasis on the area’s precious water resources.

Maree has tertiary qualifications in both environmental science and art, graduating from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2000.  She previously worked as a teacher in Arts & Media with the New England Institute of TAFE at Tamworth and Gunnedah campuses teaching a variety of fine art subjects.  She has also taught classes and workshops through the Gunnedah Community College.