The long way home (AAF SYD)

My parents migrated to Australia from England in 1966 as “10 Pound Poms”, an assisted migration scheme set up by the Government as an incentive to increase the population of Australia. They followed my Grandmother who had met an Australian while he was briefly in England during the war. They were in their early 20’s and at that time they had a 5 year old daughter (my older sister). It was a roll of the dice choice, leaving everything behind to start a new life in a foreign country. The boat trip took 5 weeks and they were unwell for most of it. I was born shortly after they arrived and over the years I have developed the greatest appreciation for growing up in this beautiful country. I have often pictured what it would have been like to live in England and for the best part, I can’t imagine the long winters, the rain and the cold. The truth is, I am extremely grateful for my parents taking a leap of faith and making the long journey to a land I am blessed to call home.

This scene is a quintessential Australian native landscape. The colours are vibrant and fresh while still being compatible with many different interior colour schemes. A timber floating frame will enhance this beautiful scene.

This artwork is unframed. All images depicting frames are for inspirational purposes only.

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As an Australian landscape artist working primarily in oil paint, I am drawn to vast open spaces and coastal scenes that hold a strong sense of place. Using a muted palette and restrained compositions, I aim to capture the mood and character of expansive shorelines and open countryside.

Light, texture and shifting tones are my starting points. As a painting develops, small details gradually emerge across the scene, bringing the work to life. My subjects range from open country to trees, water, mountains and shifting skies. Occasionally, soulful windowed structures find their way into my artworks. I also love to explore aerial perspectives, where patterns of land and water seen from above can appear almost abstract.

Much of my inspiration comes from travelling and camping in remote parts of Australia with family and friends, which fuels my natural affinity with the land. Childhood bushwalks with my grandparents left a lasting impression and continue to influence the way I see and paint today.

One of the most satisfying stages of any painting is adding the final highlights: it never ceases to amaze me how the smallest touch of light can transform the entire subject.

Over the years I have realised that I instinctively see character and soul in many things — houses, animals, trees and even vehicles. Moody, solitary scenes continue to hold a strong appeal and this atmosphere often finds its way into my paintings.

My work has been included in numerous Bluethumb curations and I was honoured to be named one of Bluethumb’s Top 10 Landscape Artists in 2023 and featured in Home Beautiful magazine as one of their top 20 local artists to buy from now.

Alongside painting, I also work as an interior stylist, which has given me an appreciation for how artwork interacts within a space and complements an interior environment.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me and the inspiration behind my work.