After seven years tucked inside the Strand Arcade, Sheila Turner is packing up her frames, canvases and carefully stacked art supplies, and moving into a shop four times the size.

Sheila Turner Picture Framers and Art Supplies will soon open at 31 Woodlark Street, the former home of The Jean House, marking a significant new chapter for one of Lismore’s much-loved small businesses.

“I’ve grown too big,” Sheila laughed. “Three years later it’s still too small. So that’s why I’m going to a bigger spot. And that’s four times bigger than here. It’s amazing.”

Sheila first opened in the Arcade about seven years ago, starting in shop number 12 as a picture framer. As demand grew, she expanded into art supplies, eventually operating across two spaces before moving into her current site after it was cleaned up post-flood.

Her move into art materials wasn’t part of the original plan. It came after the 2022 flood, when a long-standing local supplier closed its doors.

“I just did picture framing,” she said. “And then after the flood, because they closed down their art supplies, there was a gap. I had already done art supplies in New Zealand when I had a picture framing shop there, so I sort of knew what to do. So I spoke to them and they said no, they’re not coming back. So that was the opening I needed.”

Now, with a prominent road frontage on Woodlark Street, Sheila is preparing to expand again, this time beyond framing and supplies.

“I’ve spoken to four fairly prominent artists, and I’ve got a nice blank wall that they’re going to come and bring their pictures for me to sell for them,” she said. “So it’ll be an art gallery as well.”

The larger space will also allow her to stock stretched canvases in a wide range of sizes, wooden art blocks, and ready-made photo frames, something she hasn’t had time or room to focus on until now.

The empty shop on Woodlark is about to get a new life

“Those sell like hot cakes, but I haven’t had time to make any,” she said, gesturing to a busy pile of orders waiting to be completed. “It’s busy, it’s busy.”

Until now, the business has been a one-woman operation. That’s about to change.

“My son is coming in to work with me, so I’m going to teach him framing,” she said. “And his partner will come in when she’s ready, she’ll help me with the art materials.”

Her son, currently a pastor, has resigned from his chaplaincy role to join the family venture.

“It’ll be a family thing,” Sheila said. “It’s new for him… but he’s practical, he should be fine, and we get on. There’s no family histrionics there.”

The move itself will be swift. Sheila is hoping for less than a week, thanks to help from her son and a group of volunteers ready to pack, lift and reinstall shelving, carpeted display walls and equipment.

“I’m actually feeling a little bit… I think it’s like seeing a big mountain, and you’ve got to get on the top of it,” she said. “But you’ve got to approach it that you start little steps, and go up slowly.”

The growth comes after navigating enormous challenges. The 2022 flood rose far higher than expected, destroying much of her electric equipment.

“The flood wasn’t nice,” she said quietly. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been in a flood… I lost a lot.”

Her manual framing machines survived, still bearing light rust marks, and today they remain at the heart of her shop.

As she prepares to reopen on Woodlark Street, Sheila’s story is one many in Lismore understand: rebuild, adapt, and keep going.

From a single framing bench in the arcade to a full-scale framing shop, art supply store and emerging gallery space, Sheila Turner’s expansion is another sign of confidence returning to the CBD.