This geocache is dedicated to the late "Shep", a prominent Kangaroo Island artist and personal friend of ours.
Shep (alias Neil Sheppard) was born in the UK in 1956 and migrated to Australia as a child with his family. From an early age he enjoyed drawing, and started his art career working in pen and ink. In 1998 he ventured into colour acrylic paintings, and in 2005 began experimenting with oils. In latter years Shep painted full time, conducted painting workshops and enjoyed periods of invited 'artist in residence'.
He lived on Kangaroo Island with his wife in a strawbale and stone loft home he built himself, while maintaining his own working studio and gallery 'Shep's Studio'. Sadly, he passed away on 9 December 2015, aged only 59.
In addition to his love of art, Neil often visited us on the mainland to go out with Mr matmob whistling and hunting foxes as there are none on Kangaroo Island. He also loved fishing and kayaking and often combined the two.
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The cache is located in a stone wall in the Wabisabi Sensory Arts Courtyard. This garden was created by many community members including the local Progress Association, KI Council, the garden club, Womens Dinner Group and various individual artists. The garden is for community use, and is often visited by the senior citizens of Kingscote. It is a place to reflect and there are seats for this purpose. In the stone wall you will see other tributes to Shep - some of his old fishing lures, and a glass bottle containing some of his paint brushes which was inserted in the wall by his wife.
The cache is accessible when the garden gates are open, generally 10am-5pm Wed - Mon (closed Tuesdays).