Popularity Peaks

Popularity Peaks explores texture, depth, and the spirit of adventure through a three dimensional interpretation of a rock face. Created using plaster and bonding compound on canvas, finished with acrylic, the piece captures the rugged realism of stone while inviting curiosity through its miniature climbers, each one on their own unique path.

The inspiration came from a love of special effect painting and the challenge of creating natural depth and variation in texture. As the surface took shape, it began to resemble a cliff face, instantly evoking thoughts of those drawn to challenge, exploration, and the thrill of climbing.

This work is designed to resonate with anyone who has goals to reach or peaks to conquer, whether literally or metaphorically. It appeals to the adventurous spirit, the athlete, or the dreamer with a drive to ascend.

Blending earthy tones and tactile detail, Popularity Peaks brings warmth and masculinity to a space, making it ideal for a contemporary home or man cave. Quirky and conversation starting, it invites viewers to come closer, discover the tiny climbers, and reflect on their own journeys of perseverance and ambition.

Follow

Born in Victoria’s windswept Western District, I’m the artist who can’t sit still in one genre. One canvas might capture the punch of an indigo wave; the next, a spray of loose peonies; after that, a bold abstract bursting with sunrise pinks. Variety isn’t a distraction—it’s my oxygen. I see stories everywhere and spend every spare minute translating them into paint.

Texture and hue are my obsessions. I’ll hunt a single flicker of sea-foam green or the dusty mauve hiding inside a banksia leaf, layering colour until the surface feels alive enough to breathe back at you. From realism to impressionism, each piece is built to reward a lingering gaze—there’s always another detail waiting to be found.

Painting became both compass and comfort after losing my beautiful, radiant daughter Chelsey—an extraordinary soul whose light still guides me. It anchors me to the beauty that still floods the world. My wish is simple: that every work leaving my studio plants a little calm, curiosity, and wonder in its new home—and reminds you to slow down long enough to see the magic in the everyday.