Meet the Tygers

A man in a check shirt sat on a bench with two dogs.

Martyn Pearce, Tyger (the dog) and Scout at Tyger. Photo by Emily Wilde.

Martyn Pearce

Martyn Pearce is the owner of Tyger Gallery.

Martyn is a passionate advocate and supporter of the arts, and an avid art collector. He has lived in Yass for more than 10 years and is originally from London.

His background is in media, communications and public relations. In addition to running Tyger Gallery, he also manages communications for a national peak body, and produces podcasts.

Contact Martyn

Sally Rasmussen

Sally Rasmussen is Tyger’s gallery manager and a highly accomplished artist.

Her artwork is inspired by human connection and nature. Her journey as an artist began with a Bachelor of Arts (Textiles) from the National Institute of the Arts ANU, and it has since encompassed a diverse range of artistic mediums. Sally’s current inspiration sees a return to weaving with natural fibres where, she finds a deep resonance with the ephemeral existence that we all share—a return to the Earth.

Nature inspires, heals and guides Sally. It's where she finds inspiration and healing. Nature's wisdom and the way it shapes our existence are central to her creative process. Sally has a deep reverence for the natural world, and this reverence is woven into the fabric of her art.

Amy Hants

Amy is Tyger’s gallery assistant.

She has a strong passion for the visual arts and the Yass community.

In her spare time, she enjoys working on her art and design, which includes mono printing, watercolour, and textiles.

Amy loves working at Tyger Gallery, as she finds inspiration from many artists, as well as working with such a lovely team.

Amy wishes to take her joy in design further by studying fashion design and business.

Sara Phemister

Sara Phemister is Tyger’s Artist-at-Large and gallery ambassador.

In addition to being a highly accomplished artist whose work is on show at Tyger, you’ll often find her conducting workshops at the gallery and helping people with their art choices.

Sara has exhibited extensively over the last 28 years, predominately in the Canberra, Southern Tablelands and South Coast areas.

"I am endlessly inspired by capturing and illuminating daily life. My dog asleep in the morning sun, my now adult children absorbed in a task, and the shifting landscape around me. It is a collection of these moments that I want to remember," she says.

"Drawing is the basis for my practice. I paint in oil onto board and am increasingly interested in how the application of paint suggests line and form and becomes a language to tell our stories."

Kirsty Bunfield

Kirsty helps sort out all the organisational things that make Tyger a gallery that demonstrates a deep respect for artists and the arts- and the fundamental and enriching role that they have in our lives and to us as a community.

When Kirsty isn’t wrangling Tygers, she lives in Canberra, is a senior executive in the public service wrangling things such as water reform, regulation and organisational change.

She is also an occasional sewer, terrible tennis player, and mum to her two teenage sons and dog Maxwell.