Artist Catherine O'Donnell used charcoal on paper for her Light & Shadow Art Exhibition on display at Blacktown Arts Centre from April 14 to June 13.

Her charcoal drawings show familiar locations motionless and the use of light sources to spotlight overlooked architectural forms.

Ms O'Donnell memorized the surrounding built environment by photographing the sites before reproducing them in 14 charcoal drawings.

Sophia Kouyoumdjian,visual arts project officer (curator), Blacktown Arts Centre said her delicate line and fictitious placement of shadows charted a new perspective of Blacktown's urban spaces that is imperfectly beautiful.

John Cheeseman, director, Blacktown Arts Centre described her works as ``breathtaking, haunting and masterful.''

He said her works were devoid of any human activity or movement but still reflected the complexity and ambiguity of the contemporary world including the kaleidoscopic forms of commercial signage and the work of the street tagger.

Ms O'Donnell is a regular entrant in Blacktown Arts Centre's annual art prize, the Blacktown City Art Exhibition.

She was awarded first prize in the works on paper category for a charcoal drawing that depicts a domestic facade at night in 2007.

Ms O'Donnell's formal art training began in 2000 at the Western Sydney Institute, TAFE, Nepean College with Certificate IV Fine Arts (First Place) and Diploma in Fine Arts, followed by Bachelor Fine Arts (Distinction) University of Western Sydney, 2006 (Awarded Deans

Medal).

Further information visit www.artscentre.blacktown.nsw.gov. au or phone 9839 6558.