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Meet The Artist: Louis Wayling

Potts Point based artist Louis Wayling gave The Butler’s entrance a fresh new look in time for Mardi Gras 2026.

Louis found his muse in the picturesque surrounds of Potts Point – from the white shuttered windows of Juanita’s Bar to his love of native botanicals. Chef Amber also put together a spread of some of her favourite Butler dishes for inspiration. Can you spot oysters, clams from our tagliatelle, and beautiful wines from our list?

We spoke to him about his favourite mediums, what drew him to the art world, and the elements that tie his evocative pieces together.

Keep reading to learn more about Louis, but make sure you stop by to see the work of art for yourself.

Did you always want to be an artist? What drew you to the world of art?

In many ways, I always wanted to be an artist. Ever since I can remember, I was constantly creating something. Drawing, painting, making. There was always this need to express what I saw and felt. Over the years, the paintbrush simply stayed with me. Art felt like an alternate way of living.

Growing up in a family that wasn’t particularly creative, I was aware from a young age that I was different, the only left-handed person in the family, always imagining, always making. That difference didn’t feel isolating but felt defining. It pushed me to embrace my own perspective and turn it into something visual.

Creating wasn’t just something I did, it was how I understood the world.

What’s your favourite medium and favourite subject to paint/ draw?

I’ve always loved painting still lifes of flowers and calming country landscapes. There’s something so soft and minimalistic about doing country scenes. Lately I’ve been really drawn to figurative everyday moments, the small scenes throughout the day that feel ordinary and unnoticed but hold so much feeling.

Oil paints have been my go to for many years now because of its richness and depth, but I’ve recently rediscovered acrylic and fallen back in love with how forgiving and freeing it can be. I also love charcoal.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? Does it change depending on the project and location or is there always a specific element that brings the piece together?

I’m constantly inspired by my surroundings. Wherever I am in the world, my style subtly shifts with the headspace and energy of that place. It might be the atmosphere of a social gathering or a dreamy holiday landscape where I gather all my impressions and memories of that trip and layer them into one painting.

There’s always a thread that ties it together though and to be frank it’s my emotional response to that moment. Every piece becomes a reflection of how I experienced that time and place.

What role does food play in your work? Do you have a favourite dish you love to include?

Food symbolises the shared moments in between conversation, and connection – they hold the atmosphere of a scene. I love to include seafood when I paint these scenes as a nod to my saltwater upbringing.

As a Sydney local, what is your favourite:

Spot for a morning coffee: Poppi’s Place is my neighbour and every morning she greets all her customers with the best most infectious smile, always a good start to the morning. For my second coffee I would usually go to Algorithm & Primary Coffee.
Spot for a long lunch: I’m more of a long dinner kinda guy, but the long lunches I’ve had at The Butler would have to be up there!
Somewhere that fuels the creative juices: Usually getting out in nature – anywhere that involves a national park with a waterfall would have to be the place I recharge.