14/08/2025
Annabel’s Journey: From Trumpet Notes to Gallery Walls
Annabel’s artistic roots may not be in paint and canvas, but in music. As a talented trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist, she spent many years immersed in the world of instrumental music, describing her creative path as “painting with sound.”
Her connection to visual art came through family. While in Chinchilla, Annabel’s mother learned the craft of picture framing — a skill that became a family affair. Annabel worked in the family business during her holidays, but life took her in a different direction into music teaching. Still, the art connection never truly faded.
When her eldest child, a gifted young artist, began creating pieces worth framing, it made more sense to invest in framing equipment than in framing fees. That home-based studio quietly ticked along in the background of her life as a music teacher and mother.
Years later, while teaching at Highlands Christian College and living in Highfields, Annabel decided to take a leap — opening a small shopfront in the back of a local complex. The idea was simple: move the framing gear out of home, rent a modest space, and see how it went. The framing business blossomed quickly, soon outgrowing the little shop.
When a larger space became available — the beautiful old church that is now The Chapel Gallery — Annabel moved the framing business up to its current location and considered inviting one or two artists to share the rent. But word spread quickly (Annabel admits she “likes to talk”), and before long, 21 to 25 artists had expressed interest in being part of the space.
Today, while the gallery still has a framing selection area, the framing equipment and production side of the business are located off-site. What began as a practical move for her framing gear took an unexpected turn, evolving into The Chapel Gallery — a vibrant, supportive, and creative hub for the local arts community.