Sam Bates (SMUG) , a self-taught artist from Australia, is known for his photo-realistic murals worldwide. His skills evolved from early rebellious spray-painting and now grace buildings globally, including the Wirrabara silos.

The artwork also paid homage to Nullawil’s history with a unique engraving on the dog’s registration tag, featuring a galah and stick. On the silo’s southern side, Smug’s signature is placed near local graffiti.

Watching the project unfold as artist Sam Bates (Smug) transformed the silo was fascinating. Over the first two days, he covered the eastern face with brown, charcoal, grey, and flesh tones. The base coat was a house paint to seal the aged silo and prepare for the spray paints. Community members eagerly watched the artwork take shape, with the outline of a kelpie sheepdog and farmer slowly emerging.

Sam faced weather challenges during the two-week process, with rain and cold winds making work difficult, especially while perched in a cherry picker. Known for his spray paint mastery, Sam also mixed his own paints and used a large sprayer to cover the vast silo surface. Gradually, the farmer’s checked flannelette shirt appeared, with detailed texture and folds, alongside the Kelpie dog, captured in stunning realism, right down to the shiny coat and detailed collar.