Mrs Buchanan said Mayor Woodcock, who she has known for 27 years, made a very nice speech and everyone who attended enjoyed the drinks and lovely finger food, which was provided by Ana Vastag, Hannelore Deisenberger and Paula Lloyd.

Mrs Buchanan, who has painted on and off since she came to Lightning Ridge in 1982, has never had any formal training and was very nervous before the opening of her first solo exhibition.

“I even had a nightmare that I was standing out there on my own and nobody came,” she said.

Despite her concerns Mrs Buchanan said the exhibition had been well attended by more than 200 people from as far afield as Canada and America.

While she was pleased that so many people had actually come, Mrs Buchanan said she had hoped a few more people who lived locally would’ve popped in to have a look.

Those who did get a chance to see Mrs Buchanan’s artworks were mostly surprised to see how light and colourful they are.

“Someone said they were very serene, which is what I aim for,’’ she said.

“I don’t need to paint horrible things. It might be old-fashioned, but it doesn’t matter,” she said.

Mrs Buchanan said she was very grateful to all of her helpers who assisted her with catering, advertising and hanging the pictures.

She also praised the Ridge Artspace.

“It is a very nice venue,” she said.

“Jo and Andrew (Lindsay) are absolutely wonderful.’’