Hi, I am a New Zealander living in Brisbane. Many of my adult years I’ve lived in the UK and Abu Dhabi and it is there I reignited my keenness for painting, which had otherwise laid dormant since school days. In Abu Dhabi an opportunity for a group of 12 of us amateur artists had us join an Emirati artist and gallery owner, Jalal Luqman on a trip to Sir Baniyas Island. An exhibition followed allowing the Group to show off our inspired creations. Abu Dhabi Tourism were invited to our opening night and I was very excited (and surprised!) when my paintings sold. This boost gave me the confidence to continue creating and I went on to join more group exhibitions both in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Commissions from the expat community kept me going and it was then I thought maybe I could continue and make this a career.
Nowadays Brisbane is home and I’ve enjoyed working as an artist for 14 years. After years in such a dry climate as the Middle East, it has been a relief to settle in Australia near the coast and to experience all 4 seasons again. The littlest of things I missed for example the sounds of grass being mowed and the beautiful bellowing clouds in the sky. And as a result I am now a bit of a sky gazer and most days I am taking photographs of very early morning skies or parts of our local landscapes. From those reference pictures I can’t help but be creatively inspired back in my studio.
The beauty of rural landscapes, florals and trees have also inspired me for as long as I can remember. I was raised on a farm in New Zealand and my Mum created a beautiful country garden of one acre. Every season the garden burst with magnificent colour and as a child I would join Mum on her floral assignments, arranging large displays for wedding venues and marquees.
My painting style I would describe as impressionistic and I work using the wet on wet technique with expressive, loose brush marks hopefully capturing the movement and atmosphere which inspired me. Acrylics is my preferred medium although I do like to experiment with other mediums for example oils and gouache. I have taken part in many group exhibitions around the Brisbane area and in recent years have enjoyed representation at my local Manly Harbour Gallery where we have seasonal group exhibitions. In May 2021 I had my first solo ‘Home and Away’, showcasing a contrast in works inspired by my international travels alongside more familiar landscapes nearer to home.
I plan to road trip and paint en plein air along the beautiful coastlines and hinterlands of southern Queensland. I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful state and country.