Irene Mengel is the Manager of Aspire Gallery, a Brisbane-based commercial gallery that supports artists across Australia. In recent years, the gallery has grown into a nationally recognised space, regularly participating in the Australian Affordable Art Fairs and has over the years collaborated with a range of organisations. With an online following of over 13,000, Aspire Gallery is not only a platform for showcasing art but also a hub for mentorship. Beyond exhibition curation, the gallery plays an active role in mentoring emerging and professional artists, with a particular focus on providing business guidance within the arts sector.

Beyond her role at the gallery, Irene has been actively involved in the arts sector in various capacities. For three years, she served on the Board of Arts From the Margins, a creative initiative of Wesley Mission Queensland that provides opportunities for artists facing adversity, including those experiencing mental health challenges, disability, or homelessness. She has also worked as a consultant for a national online platform, managing collaborations with Indigenous artists and Art Centres, ensuring ethical and sustainable business relationships.

In addition to her work in the arts, Irene was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland in late 2020 and currently works in tax law and administration. Combining her legal and arts expertise, she is currently completing a Master of Philosophy in Art Economics, with a thesis focused on the evolving relationships, patterns, and motivations underpinning consumer behaviour in the growing, and ever-changing, Australian art market.

Jenny is a theatrical and visual artist who has worked in the field for 40 years. She attended art classes as a child which led to both secondary and tertiary studies and many workshops and master classes over the years. Jenny has a wide range of media in which she works; drawing, painting, sculpture, lead lighting and textiles along with artistic aspects of theatre – set/prop design, construction and painting and costume design and sewing. Jenny is Head of Department for ‘The Arts’ at Proserpine High School and currently teaches drama and visual art.

Born in Brisbane, Carol Bell was raised under the creative influence of her mother, an artist and art teacher. After relocating to the Whitsundays, it wasn’t until her family had grown and professional commitments eased that she was able to fully pursue her artistic career.

Carol draws inspiration from the natural beauty of her surroundings, as well as her travels throughout Australia and abroad. Working primarily on large-format canvases, she experiments with a variety of mediums to create contemporary paintings that are rich in movement, texture, and vibrant colour. Her work reflects her interpretations of the ocean, flora, fauna, and landscapes that surround her.

Guided by her personal motto, “be true to oneself,” Carol paints from a place of authenticity, choosing subjects and techniques that resonate with her deeply. Her creative journey is ever evolving—shaped by nature’s rhythms and the fleeting moments that capture the imagination.

Carol’s artworks are held in private and corporate collections across Australia.

Cr Jan Clifford has joined the panel as a representative of Whitsundays Regional Council,  sponsor of the Acquisitive Art Prize.  With a strong passion for supporting arts in the Whitsundays, Cr Clifford has been a dedicated advocate for exhibitions and has a keen eye for talented artists.  We are delighted to have her to the panel again this year.