Emma Blyth with her painting of the Old Bridge.
Camera IconEmma Blyth with her painting of the Old Bridge. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Renowned local artist Emma Blyth donates artwork to Mandurah Crab Fest

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

Preparations are underway for the annual event, the 19th Crab Fest, on March 18 and 19.

Since its birth in 1999, the festival has become WA’s biggest free regional event, attracting more than 120,000 people in 2015.

Late last year, the Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest was awarded Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the 2016 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards.

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The festival continues to encourage and celebrate Mandurah’s thriving arts community, with many local artists displaying their talent in a number of art-focused competitions and initiatives.

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Blyth has been producing stunning, distinctive artworks for the Crab Fest since the beginning, and this year is no exception.

Her inspiration features the old Mandurah traffic bridge.

Blyth said this year’s work was a special piece for her.

The 62-year-old traffic bridge – which locals affectionately refer to as “the Old Bridge” – has reached its use-by date and is being replaced.

“I have painted this piece as a classic old bridge memorabilia work using natural colours, gold leaf and of course our good old blue manna crab swimming under it,’’ she said.

“The bridge brings back a lot of fond memories for locals.

“Family days of fishing and crabbing under it, jumping off it with friends and just walking over it.

“I have some great memories catching herring and prawns, plus the odd blowie with my Pop.

“Actually, I think it was mainly blowies, but we all know they were a lot of fun.”

In the past few years, Blyth’s work has raised more than $12,000 for charity.