Celebrated Australian landscape artist Lloyd Rees is the first inductee to the Kiama Arts Honour Roll.
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Rees, the internationally acclaimed artist who died in 1988, owned a home at Werri Beach where he painted many of his best-known works including The Road to Berry and Fire Haze over Gerringong, which hang in the Art Gallery of NSW.
In December, the Kiama council approved the creation of the arts honour roll, with those honoured to be announced annually at the council's Australia Day Awards event alongside the sports honour roll.
The Kiama municipality has been home to many who have been internationally recognised in the arts, including writer Charmian Clift and prolific Hollywood costume designer Orry Kelly.
Kiama Cultural Board members believe the creation of the honour roll will help lift the profile of the cultural arts and acknowledge the role it plays in the Kiama municipality.
The award was accepted on behalf of the Rees family by chair of the Lloyd Rees Festival Committee, Bobbie Miller, who was once a student of Rees.
Ms Miller said Gerringong and Kiama had a presence in national and international galleries thanks to Rees.
"It is very exciting the council established the arts honour roll, and equally exciting that the first recipient was Lloyd Rees."
The Lloyd Rees Festival takes place in Gerringong in November, and will include exhibitions of the artist's works, tours of the painting sites, art classes and food events.