Outback art in dusty Silverton

Nothing much grows in the dusty surrounds of Silverton in far western NSW.

Once during the mining boom times the tiny town near Broken Hill was home to more than 3,000 people, but now the population's only 47.

So it's understandable why many guidebooks refer to it as a ghost town.

But there's still life in the place - in fact, Silverton's become the source of some of Australia's best art.

Resident artist John Dynon says it's the peace and quiet of the bush that keeps him here.

"I love the outback, the colours, just being in the bush, it's nice out here" Dynon says, who paints outback scenes and wildflowers. "I lived in Broken Hill for years. It's better out here though. I've got all my customers during the day and it's peaceful at night. We've got no neighbours looking over (the) fence."

Dynon's gallery is near the famous old church in Silverton and sits next door to Peter Browne's gallery, which Dynon now owns.

It's not just artists that are attracted to Silverton's rustic peace and quiet, directors of the big and small screen have been drawn to the remote little enclave to shoot titles such as Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Mad Max and A Town Called Alice.

There are three galleries in Silverton - Dynon's gallery, Albert Woodroffe and Bronwen Standley-Woodroffe's Horizon Gallery and Peter Browne's gallery. But only Dynon and Albert Woodroffe still live in Silverton.