WHEN the Turner family of Marom Creek go camping there’s an unusual piece of equipment they always pack: art supplies.

“We always take a milk crate full of art equipment with us on every trip,” Jill Turner said.

“We’ll take our cameras and everything from paint and pencils to paper and canvas,” she said.

Jill and Ivan Turner, and their three girls; Selina, 10 and twins Marissa and Kirralee, 15, say art making is a passion the whole family shares, and is often the focus of family holidays.

“Sometimes we’ll stop by the side of the road if the girls spot something interesting and we could stay there for hours painting and drawing,” Mrs Turner said.

The family’s Marom Creek home is filled with examples of the family’s artworks; photography, drawings and paintings inspired by family camping trips to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Carnarvon Gorge and Stanthorpe in Queensland and Tenterfield and Broken Hill in NSW.

Not only do the Turners create together, this year the whole family will enter an artwork into the Bentley Art Prize to be held over three days in August.

Jill, Ivan and Selina will be entering photography into the Art Prize while Marissa and Kirralee will enter paintings.

The elder girls have already a swag of local art awards under their belts – Kirralee has previously won the Bentley Art Prize’s primary section for a landscape she painted when in grade 6 and Marissa recently won first prize in the Casino Beef Week student art and photography section for a watercolour landscape.

Their younger sister, Selina, is herself a deft hand at photography, with her flock of bantam and silky chickens her favourite subject.

“It’s a great thing for the girls to learn,” Mr Turner said.

“It’s not a competitive activity.”

The Bentley Art Prize, offering $8,000 in prizes will be held on August 5-7.

Bentley Art Prize

• Held at the Bentley public hall August 5-7.
• Entries close on July 27.
• $8,500 in prizes on offer.
• All ages can enter and there are 14 sections to choose from.
• For more information visit: www.bentleyartprize.com.au