I'm an artist and designer, using digital, mixed media art and photography. With the inherent creative freedom, potential for instant and direct critical evaluation, unlimited scope for artistic control, enhancement, and experimentation, the digital/mixed media medium is endlessly fascinating to me and suits my style. My current inclination is toward digital (tablet based) illustration and design, often incorporating elements of photography within digital compositions. I frequently produce artwork in a “continuous” repeating format to facilitate its application in textiles and decor, and for a unique and charming aesthetic, as well as my BraveNewArt Spoonflower, Redbubble, Society6 and Etsy stores.
I grew up in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s in a semi rural, suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, surrounded by a large garden with the backdrop of Black Hill and the Mount Lofty Ranges (at the southern end of the ancient Flinders Ranges). Our gardens, and that of my grandmother’s across the road, were complex and rambling, yet also contained formal flowerbeds which attracted day trippers on the weekends! The birds, bees, lizards, bushes and trees endlessly fascinated me as we played imaginary games and filled our tummies with in-season fruit and vegetables from the fruit trees and vegetable patches. Nature has therefore always played a large role in my life and retains a large space in my heart. I now have a garden of my own in the Adelaide Hills and have brought my own daughters up to love and respect the flora and fauna and wildlife of the great outdoors.
I am passionate about capturing natural moments in my garden. Thus, I often have a camera with me when in my garden. I feel compelled to capture the beauty that I see and preserve it to share with others. Sunlight, weather conditions, and subjects are ever changing, and to capture beautiful and meaningful images, that tell a story, is a lifelong quest. And then, to create truly unique and bespoke works of art, is a gift and a privilege.
I am endlessly inspired by the beauty and majesty of the natural world in general, and by the unique Australian landscape in particular. I have also travelled extensively in Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. I believe that art should be aesthetically pleasing and uplifting, as well as thought provoking and evocative of mood. One hopes that one's art is something that people would like to have in their home, as part of their world.
Although I studied Art as a subject for 11 years, at both primary and secondary schools, my formal tertiary education in Biology and Geography, and later a Master’s Degree in Special and Gifted Education, took me on a different career path.
I have always been fascinated by the colours, shapes, and patterns that exist in the natural world - and these make up the foundation of my art. Light and shadow, hard angles and soft curves, manifest themselves to the eye of the artist, to then be composed into an artwork. Revealing the intricacy of nature's design is at the heart of my mixed media art practice.
I have had art pieces featured in a few art exhibitions across Australia - in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland in recent times - as well as internationally online. Most recently, two of my works “Girl By The River” and “Settlement” were shortlisted in the Australian Contemporary Art Awards and featured in their online exhibition, and hardcopy and online published catalogue. I am presently preparing a multi-piece, month long, solo art exhibition for them. In May, 2018, a mixed-media photographic art piece of mine was chosen and displayed as a shortlisted finalist for the Head On Photo Awards festival (Sydney). Another of my pieces, "Stained Glass Window", has been shortlisted for the 2018 Stanthorpe biennial Art Prize, and will go on display in Queensland in June.
In May 2018, two of my photographic/art pieces, "Young, Noble, and Free" and "Monarch of the Garden", also received special recognition awards in the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery "Animals" Art Exhibition. And, in their June "Landscapes" competition two of my art pieces were awarded - "Oasis in the Bush" received a Special Merit award and "Contemplation" received a Special Recognition award. In July, 2018 I received a Special Merit Award for my "The Sentinels" from the Light, Space & Time Online Art Gallery in their 555 Special Art Exhibition. And, in August, 2018 I received an Hon. Mention Award for my artwork "Fairyland" and a Special Recognition for "Gum Tree Dreaming". Light Space & Time "Open" Art Exhibition, September 2018, 3rd Place - Photography "Oriental Glow" and 7th Place - Overall "Oriental Glow". Also Special Recognition - "Koala - Treetop Dream", and Honourable Mention - "Harvest Festival". Light Space & Time "Patterns" art exhibition, October 2018, 9th Place - Photography "Garden Lace", and Special Recognition "Vortex". Light Space & Time "Nature" Art Exhibition, November 2018, Honourable Mention "Symbiosis". Light Space & Time "Seascapes" art exhibition December 2018, Special Recognition "Golden Light at High Tide", "Feeding Seagulls", and "Last Rays". Light Space & Time "All Women" Art Exhibition, January 2019, Special Merit awards for "A Passing Visitior" and "Self Portrait #1" - Special Recognition "Grevillea Mosaic". Light Space & Time "Abstracts" Art Exhibition, March 2019, Special Merit "My Digital Self" and Special Recognition "Reaching for the Sky". Light Space & Time "Figurative" Art Exhibition, April 2019, Special Merit "Girl With the Blue Earring". Light Space & Time "10th Open" Art Exhibition, November 2020, Honourable Mention - Photography and Digital "Australian Bushland Sunset", Special Merit "Honeyeaters Heralds Spring".