Stepping through the ornate gates at Shades of Gray Studio and Gallery in Castlemaine, visitors are immediately transported to a whimsical wonderland full of unique, hand-crafted metal flowers.
The beautiful greenery of the garden is adorned with more than 10,000 daisies, lilies and bell flowers in vibrant colours and hues, nestled among the plants and hanging from the tree branches.
Thousands of visitors from across the state and the country flock to the annual exhibition, keen to purchase a treasure to take home.
“People say they’ve never seen anything like it anywhere in the world,” artist and owner Peter Gray said.
“Each year on opening day, there is a line of people down the block waiting to get in – we even have visitors coming from overseas just to visit the exhibition.”
For the past 31 years Peter has worked tirelessly to bring his vision to life, often awake in the early hours of the morning, creating his masterpieces.
He happily dedicates anywhere from 12-16 hours a day creating artwork in pursuit of making each exhibit bigger and better than the one before.
“This is what I do, this who am I am. It’s not work for me,” he said.
This year, Peter has had an extra pair of hands with Theresa Bodno assisting with the studio and events, and he is grateful for the extra time it gives for him to create.
There are some wonderful new pieces in store for visitors in 2024 including a chook house with more than 50 unique, hand-crafted chooks and roosters for sale, a new flower range called Autumn Fall, and Peter has taken the popular garden orbs to the next level this year.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and I can’t wait to open.”
Opens November 2 – 10 from 10am to 4pm and continuing on November 16 – 17, 23 – 24 and November 30 – December 1 from 10am to 4pm.
For more information visit: www.shadesofgray.net.au or on Instagram @shadesofgraystudio.
