Stories from the Studio: Holly Davies
STA ‘Stories From the Studio’ caught up with Wollondilly artist Holly Davies. The creative transformation of waste into art was once again celebrated at the 2025 Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize, with Holly Davies taking out the People’s Choice Award with her spectacular “Plethora of plastic Couture” which was created using a roll of rope found at an abandoned worksite and plastic bags, capturing the admiration of visitors across the exhibition.
Delivered by Wollondilly Shire Council in partnership with Southern Tablelands Arts, the annual program continues to highlight the power of sustainability through creativity. Hollys’ winning work stood out among a diverse field of entries, with audiences voting her piece as their favourite for its originality and strong engagement with the ‘Waste to Art’ ethos, reimagining discarded materials into something both meaningful and visually striking.
The 2025 exhibition brought together artists from across the region, showcasing a range of innovative works created from waste materials reflecting the depth of artistic talent and community involvement behind the initiative.
A key component of the program, the regional Waste to Art workshops, again provided valuable opportunities for artists of all skill levels to develop their ideas ahead of the exhibition. These workshops underpin the program’s broader goal of reducing landfill while encouraging sustainable practices through artistic expression.
Looking ahead, the Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize returns in 2026, continuing its commitment to environmental awareness and creative excellence.
The 2026 exhibition will be held at Wollondilly Shire Hall in Picton, with the official opening and prize announcements scheduled for 12:30 pm on Thursday 16 July. 
This year’s prize pool totals $2,700, distributed across several categories designed to recognise artists at different stages of their creative journey. The Open category (18+) offers a first prize of $1,000, alongside second and third prizes, while youth artists aged 7–17 compete for four equal awards. A dedicated Wollondilly Community prize ensures local artists are recognised, and the popular People’s Choice Award will once again invite visitors to vote for their favourite work.
Entries for the 2026 prize are now open and close on Friday 10 July, with free entry available to all residents of the STA region, including Wollondilly, Wingecarribee, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Upper Lachlan, Queanbeyan-Palerang and Yass Valley. Artists may submit up to two works, provided they incorporate waste materials and reflect the 2026 theme of Repair and Reuse.
In addition to the exhibition, a series of free creative workshops will be delivered across the STA region, offering hands-on experiences that encourage participants to rethink waste and explore sustainable art-making practices.
As the program moves into another year, the success of artists like Holly Davies highlights the growing impact of Waste to Art, not only as an exhibition, but as a community-driven movement that continues to inspire, educate and transform the way waste is perceived.

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN!!! CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS.