Bold, interpretive still lifes with a generous helping of nature imagery are the work of local acrylic artist Amanda Bigelow.

"Her pieces are just very vibrant. Beautiful colours and nature," Inverell Art Society member and exhibition co-ordinator Christina Smith said. She was blown away by Amanda's ability to use her techniques in landscapes.

Toowoomba ceramicist Peta Berghofer has been recognised internationally for her talents, and has just begun a 12 month artistic scholarship in Paris. Acrylic artist Vanessa Encarnacao and oil painter Eliabeth Howelett are also featured in current Sydney and Adelaide exhibitions respectively.

"They're all special. I've been talking to them and encouraging them for 3-4 months, so you get to know a lot about them," Christina said.

She was enthralled by the generosity of Toowoomba watercolour painter Laura Crane, whose series of horse paintings were inspired by the losses of the north Queensland floods.

After realising how many animals died in the floods, particularly children's pets, Laura began painting horses and ponies who were lost to the natural disaster. She has been donating each piece to the children who owned them.

"I was just so touched following along with her stories on Instagram and what she was doing," Christina said.

Also participating are Toowoomba acrylic painter Diana Battle, flexible Brisbane artist Robyn Beeston, whose pieces include watercolour, acrylic, ink and lino prints and Ballina acrylic painter Trish Tait.

Although it is only in its second year, the Contemporary Exhibition has already gained a strong following, with local creatives suggesting a competition to support the now annual event.

Coming from a farming family, Christina said the gallery space was a welcome distraction from the troubles of the drought.

"I think it's nice to have that brightness," she said.

"Walking into a gallery or a space and being able to see something different, something that makes you think."

She said it was also a great opportunity for children to learn.

"The more you can expose younger people and children to, the more it opens their mind to know that there is more that they can look at and be interested in and do and they can achieve," she said.

The exhibition will officially open at the Inverell Art Gallery on Evans Street from 7pm on Friday. The bar will be operating.