My journey into the art world began in the late 1990s as an actress, and by the early 2000s, I founded a theatre company in Melbourne, Victoria. My creative pursuits have always centred on portraying strong women and youth in literature, theatre, and film. I am a trained performance artist and writer, and a self-taught fine artist who enjoys creating from home, often with my lively family offering their unfiltered feedback on my work. I thrive on having multiple projects underway at once, engaging in research, writing essays, opinion pieces, poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and advancing my academic career in higher education. My driving force is a desire to make the world a better place.
I've been honoured to receive awards from the Queen’s Trust Foundation and the Myer Foundation for my acclaimed theatre-in-education works, particularly those focused on anti-bullying programs for primary and secondary schools across Australia. In the early 2000s, I pioneered theatre-in-education programs that supported students in tackling bullying in Australian primary schools, a contribution I hold dear. My portfolio spans over 100 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, plays, and books, featured in esteemed national and international outlets.
As a mixed media artist, I work with oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, acrylics, and water colours to express political and cultural themes from the past and present, aiming to provoke thought and reflection in today's context. My art ranges from realism to abstract, including portraits, and I relish the freedom and expression that painting affords me. Every brushstroke is an opportunity to embed hidden secrets for viewers to uncover, inviting them to interpret and engage with my work.
I hope my artwork inspires you to rethink big ideas and discover the layers of hidden messages within each piece. Most of my works are on canvas, ready to hang and safely ship, making them accessible for collectors everywhere.