Petra Meikle de Vlas - Australian Fine Art Painter

Petra Meikle de Vlas is a Cairns-based ocean artist whose mixed-media paintings draw on the waters and reef formations of Far North Queensland. Working from a coastal studio, she creates original works inspired by the textures of exposed reef, rocks and moving water, with the Great Barrier Reef forming an important part of the surrounding landscape and creative influence.

Her process is distinctive and highly physical. Rather than relying only on conventional painting methods, Petra layers materials onto boards and uses her hands, air guns, spray bottles, a blowtorch and gravity to shape the surface. Paint is poured, moved and built up in multiple layers, while interactions between pigments create changing patterns and formations. The result is artwork with a strong sense of movement and ocean-like texture.

Visitors can explore Petra’s original works and prints, with selected originals also shown through galleries in Cairns, Port Douglas and the Tablelands. Her Cairns-area studio welcomes visits by appointment, making it a suitable stop for art lovers, collectors and anyone interested in learning more about the making of large-format coastal artwork. Located in Clifton Beach, Cairns, the artist offers a personal alternative to a conventional gallery visit, while her work can also be viewed at listed exhibiting galleries across the region.