In 1998, Cairns Gallery curated a National touring show. It published a book, “Escape Artists Modernists in the Tropics ” representing a group of nationally well-known artists who escaped from the confines of the city and the mainstream galleries to FNQ to discover the exotic landscape of the north – expressing their independence and originality. Most of the collection was created from the 40’s to the 90’s. Some of these Artists are now the country’s national artistic heroes of the Australian art world. These artists include Ray Crooke, Donald Friend, Sidney Nolan, Margaret Olly, Brett Whiteley, Yvonne Cohen, Tony Tuckson, Fred Williams, Russel Drysdale, Ian Fairweather and more.

Inspired by these artists, Port Douglas Artists are challenged to explore their journey to the region and its influence on their visual art practice.