ENTERING Under the Greenwood Tree instantly grounds you, with quirky artwork lining the walls and shelves filled with books that invite you to slow down, browse and discover something unexpected.
Tucked away in Tamborine Plaza, the independent bookshop and gallery has become a quiet cultural hub for locals and visitors alike, blending literature, original art and a strong sense of community.
Owner Janene Gardner says the space is intentionally curated to give both books and artworks room to breathe.
“Everything in the shop is one-off, it’s all real art by real people,” Mrs Gardner said.
“I like the gallery to be sparse. I don’t like it being too busy because I want the artwork to breathe.”
That philosophy is reflected in the rotating exhibitions hosted within the gallery space, including a the current solo exhibition by respected Monte Lupo artist Peter Hughes, whose distinctive works offered visitors a deeper look at place, pattern and storytelling.
“This is a solo exhibition for Peter, and that’s really special,” Mrs Gardner said.
“He’s been showing with Monte Lupo for 25 years, and I’ve always loved his work because he’s so left-of-field with his ideas.”
Peter, who is autistic, sometimes finds verbal communication challenging, but expresses himself powerfully through his art.
His work often draws on Australian imagery, with recurring themes including insects, flowers, birds and landscape.
His exhibition features paintings inspired by Tamborine Mountain’s historic buildings, created through careful observation and photographic reference.
“I started working on a picture I’m painting of the historical old buildings in Tamborine Mountain,” he said.
“I’ve got a lot of painting to do.”
For Peter, painting is both a creative outlet and a source of enjoyment.
“My artwork feels pretty good so far,” he said.
“Nice big patterns of flowers, leaves and nice big bugs and nice butterflies.”
Mrs Gardner said Peter’s career highlights speak for themselves, including his selection as a finalist in the Gordon Darling Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
“It’s not a prize for people with disabilities, it’s a prize for artists,” she said.
“Peter’s had an amazing, stellar career.”
Beyond the gallery, Under the Greenwood Tree is equally known for its thoughtfully curated book selection, favouring backlist titles and lesser-known gems over mass-market releases.
“What we want is for people to find books they didn’t know they wanted,” Mrs Gardner said.
“It’s about offering something different, something thoughtful.”
Peter Hughes’ exhibition opens on Saturday February 14 and runs until March 12.
Visitors are welcome to browse the wide range of artwork and books at Under the Greenwood Tree, located at Shop 4/1 Main St, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272.
The shop is open from 10am to 4.30pm and is closed on Tuesdays.
