Mount Gambier oil painter Rachel Clayfield has launched an exhibition themed around her childhood memories of her hometown, Coonawarra.

The eight-piece exhibition opened on May 16 at Majella as part of the larger Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.

The exhibition, which Ms Clayfield started during a break from full-time work, revisits rural childhood experiences such as catching the bus to school, arts and crafts at home, geocaching and hay carting.

The project is Ms Clayfield’s first solo exhibition which she spent around eight months working on from concept to delivery.

Journalist, wine writer and author Katie Spain endorsed the exhibition online stating “there was so much beautiful soul-stirring art on show during the Penola Coonawarra Arts 
Festival.

“Artist Rachel Clayfield’s pieces gave me chills … the beautiful, nostalgic kind”.

Ms Clayfield praised Country Arts SA, Regional Arts SA and the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund for the work they do in supporting artists from regional and remote 
areas.

“Sometimes being in the country you can feel like you have less opportunity, but the Regional Arts Fund is such a fantastic initiative to combat that,” she said.

“I’d encourage anyone who is working towards a larger artistic project to seek out funding opportunities and lean on your community and connections to bring it to life.”

‘From Where I’d Rather Be’ is running until June 16 at Majella.

The exhibition is open during cellar door hours, 10am-4pm daily, so guests can enjoy a wine tasting while viewing the artwork.