We arrived just after closing hours on a Saturday to pick up a canvas for an urgent commission and the place was closed. The manager in the back saw us getting back in the car, came out, we explained the situation, and he opened up the shop to let us get the canvas we needed.

I have been buying all my art supplies at Highly Strung for the last 3 years; despite it being a little out of my way. They have a great selection of reasonably priced canvas'. The shop is well organised and they always have what I need. Vanessa is always a great help and the new owners have helped make shopping there a great experience. I tried other shops early on but have found that Highly Strung is always worth the drive.

I purchase art supplies at Highly Strung. As I am somewhat of a beginner, Vanessa has always been helpful with the right advice and best value. I have also had some matting and framing done...always a top job.

We actually only dropped into this shop to ask directions to the markets they have locally when we were on holiday in Noosa but the people were so friendly and helpful we had a look around whilst we were there. They have a fabulous range of Art supplies and as someone who paints I was really surprised to find such a great selection in what we assumed was a fairly sleepy town. The staff were so knowledgeable and helpful it was really refreshing and the prices were very good compared to elswhere. I bought a few things and we went back in two days later with some artwork we bought in Hastings street and organised some framing. They were really great, with hindsight we are so pleased we took their advise on which frames would suit. They did an absolutely 1st class job at a very reasonable price and becasue we were leaving the following week they organised to send it all to us in Manly. 2 weeks later the two pieces arrived safe and sound and beautifuly packed - a great job and even better service - thanks

Approximate cost: $150

We import fine art from Europe and the Uk and sell at various fine art exhibitions around the country, both here on the coast and in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. We have tried any number of framing companies both locally on the sunshine coast and in Brisbane and Sydney and without a doubt Highly Strung is the best we have come across. They have a real eye for which frame or set up will compliment each work and the workmanship is outstanding. They are usually quite busy (which for us is a good sign) but if we need something quickly they have always been able to help us out. The choice of frames is huge and can be a bit daunting but the guys in the shop really know how to help narrow it down to a few really good options we can choose from. The prices are also very competitive - they are more cost effective than many we have tried but even if they were more expensive we wouldn't go anywhere else becasue the standard is so good - Thank You Highly Strung

I've had my work framed at various framers in Melbourne and Brisbane, but Highly Strung is easily the best of them. Gavin and Julie and their team get work from all around the country and do framing work for many of the five star resorts. Consequently, they are always very busy and if you don't need your work urgently, it could take quite some time to get it back. That said, if you are in a rush, you can have your stuff back within a week. I get mostly tapestries framed, a job many framers loathe and few can do well, but Highly Strung always do a magnificent job. They take the time to look at the various matting and framing options with you and will suggest what they think will be the most effective. I have on occasion left work with them without even looking at mats or frames, just asking them to do something nice, and they've always given me back a piece that's perfectly framed, with mats and a frame that set the piece off perfectly. They're not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but when it comes to artwork, it's just so important to get it framed right, as the wrong colour mats or the wrong frame can ruin a beautiful piece of work.

Well, Gavin and Julie have sold the business, the staff they had have left for greener pastures, and Highly Strung has now become one of the most expensive framers on the Coast. Unfortunately the current owners and staff just don't have the flair for the work that Gav and Julie had, and I'm now on the hunt for someone new.