HER GRANDFATHER first taught her to draw an outback landscape at age four and now Warwick artist Nikki Wood has mastered the art of capturing the beauty in nature.

Drawing inspiration from Australian landscape and historical objects, Ms Wood uses art to escape into another world.

"As a teacher, living in Warwick and working in Toowoomba, my day is often quite busy and hectic,” she said.

"But sitting on a stool behind my working board, smashing pastel against paper, my hands covered in colour is oddly therapeutic.

"There's the excitement when you get that tree right, or that road really disappears into the picture or you feel like you could reach through and pick up that rock, that's completely exciting.”

Ms Wood has taken part in the Warwick Art Prize, Stanthorpe Art Prize and Contrasts Art Prize, as well as exhibiting both in Warwick and Toowoomba.

She has just opened a new exhibition, For the Love of Trees, at Warwick Art Gallery.

Ms Wood said she always had a fascination with trees, particularly those around the Southern Downs.

The natural landscape on the drive from Killarney to Spring Creek, as well as Springbrook National Park, features in the exhibition.

"The main goal of my exhibition is for people to feel what I do when I go to these places,” she said.

"A glimmer of adventure, peace and quiet contemplation.”

Ms Wood also enjoys sharing her love of art with others, tutoring budding artists as well as drawing pictures for her students at Harristown High School in Toowoomba.

"I have caught many a student attempting to copy my drawings either on the board or in their books,” she said.

For the Love of Trees will be at Warwick Art Gallery, 49 Albion St, until June 30.