Art to captivate your senses

About Holly

Creative beginnings

A woman with long black hair, dressed in black, kneeling and smiling in an art studio with four ocean-themed paintings behind her.

Holly Mahoney, originally from Geelong, grew up immersed in the rugged beauty of the South Coast. Now based on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Holly finds boundless inspiration in her surroundings. The ocean, with its vastness and ever-changing hues, features prominently in her work.

Read Holly’s first blog ‘Drawn to paint’ to find out more about early beginnings and inspiration.

Artistic process

Northern Beaches Artist Holly Mahoney is known for her evocative landscape and figurative artworks on canvas and paper. Holly captures the fluidity of movement and light through gestural marks that leave a lasting emotional impact. View video of the creative process.

Career Highlights

Holly holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts with a double major in Painting & Drawing from the University of Ballarat and was recognized as a Finalist Gallipoli Art Prize 2021 view past exhibitions here.

The joy of mark-making is central to Holly's creative process. Her confident use of layers and textures draws viewers into her works, encouraging them to revisit and discover new details with every gaze.

Landscapes & Light

Northern Beaches Artist—Holly Mahoney—pictured in front of original coastal artworks depicting the ocean and seascapes of the local area

Holly’s landscapes transport viewers into a world shaped by the dynamic movement of the ocean, expansive skies, and the essence of Australian life. Her artworks are bathed in dramatic light and vibrant colors, evoking a deep sense of connection to nature. Layered, gestural brushstrokes invite viewers on a journey, revealing hidden depths and nuances with each look.

Painting by local Northern Beaches Artist, Holly Mahoney of North Head, Manly.

Painting of ocean waves with a large breaking wave in the foreground, with shades of blue, green, white, and black.

An abstract painting of ocean waves crashing onto a sandy shoreline with dark sky background.

A painting of a couple embracing on the beach, with the ocean and sky in the background. The woman is wearing a black swimsuit, and the man is shirtless and wearing black shorts.

Figures in the composition

Drawing lies at the heart of Holly’s practice. Both her landscape and figurative works begin with inspiration sketched directly onto paper or canvas using charcoal or paint. By blending abstraction with moments of realism, Holly creates artworks that feel alive, capturing the fluid interplay between form and emotion. Her signature style combines expressive drawn lines in her paintings with layered washes in works on paper. This depth of technique gives her art a distinctive quality that resonates personally with viewers.

Holly is also the founder of the Underground Sketch Club, a welcoming space where creative individuals come together to sketch the human form in a relaxed and supportive environment. There is something so beautiful about artworks on paper.