A shared passion for art brought Ricky Schembri and Alexandra Davis together, and now the couple has transformed their artistic dreams into reality by opening their own studio gallery in Killarney. Their newly constructed Studio 75 represents a significant milestone in their journey from painting in cramped quarters to having a professional space to create and display their work.

For the past decade, Schembri had been confined to painting in his living room, barely having enough space for one artist, let alone two. "We moved in together and we were both painting in the living room," Davis explained. "It was really crowded. Now we've got plenty of room," Schembri added, clearly relieved to have adequate workspace for their artistic endeavors.

The couple first met approximately two and a half years ago through their local arts society, bonding over their mutual love of creating art. They are now working diligently to make a living from their artwork, though they acknowledge the challenges. "It is a bit hard," Schembri admitted about pursuing art as a career.

Both artists discovered their passion for art during childhood. "I was always drawing," Schembri recalled. However, without proper guidance, he put his artistic pursuits on hold when he was around 16 or 17 years old to focus on work, leaving art behind for many years. At age 28, he rediscovered his love for art after creating a sketch of one of his mother's dogs. While getting the drawing framed, he struck up a conversation that led to his encouragement to join the arts society.

At that time, Schembri was helping his mother run boarding kennels in Koroit, a demanding occupation that required seven days a week of attention. This intensive schedule left little time for artistic pursuits, except for Tuesday afternoons when he could participate with the art group. "It was sort of like a hobby," he explained about his initial return to art.

Two years ago, Schembri made the pivotal decision to focus more seriously on his artwork. "I wanted to do something for myself. I've always loved art," he said, explaining his motivation to pursue his passion more dedicatedly. "The best thing is traveling to a new place and sitting there and just painting on the spot," he added, describing what he finds most fulfilling about his art practice.

This philosophy of plein air painting came to life during the couple's memorable trip to Italy, where they fully embraced the experience of creating art in iconic locations. They carefully packed their easels, two camera tripods weighing half a kilogram each, and a backpack filled with all their pastels and art supplies for the journey.

"Venice was amazing. We woke up and went out with our backpack and tripods and sat there and just found a little bridge with the boats in the water," Schembri recounted with evident excitement. "It was just amazing. I couldn't believe we were painting in Venice." The experience clearly left a lasting impression on both artists, representing a dream fulfilled.

During their artistic sessions in Venice, the couple attracted considerable attention from tourists passing by. "The tourists liked us," Davis noted, suggesting that their painting activities became an attraction in themselves. The positive response from visitors made the experience even more memorable, and both artists expressed their desire to return to Italy for future artistic adventures.

Their extensive travels across much of Italy and France have provided rich inspiration for many of the paintings currently displayed in their new studio. The trip not only fulfilled their artistic dreams but also supplied them with subject matter that continues to influence their work.

In terms of artistic techniques and mediums, Schembri has established himself as a specialist in pastel work, though he is expanding his repertoire to include oils and watercolors. Davis demonstrates versatility by working with a wide variety of different mediums, giving the studio a diverse range of artistic styles and approaches.

Studio 75 will officially open its doors to the public during its grand opening weekend, welcoming visitors between 10 AM and 4 PM on both Saturday, September 6, 2025, and Sunday, September 7, 2025. The studio is located at 75 Survey Lane in Killarney. Following the opening weekend, the gallery will operate by appointment only, and interested visitors can schedule visits by calling either 0407 563 863 or 0481 703 525.