The Ferocity of Nature's Moods

The environment is under threat from anthropogenic climate change. Its response? Flood, drought, fire. Big fire. Nature’s beauty and wonder is backed into a corner and is taking on a more fearsome persona. The natural world is fighting back.
In response, I wanted to create an image that captures this vengeful mood. Devastation and beauty entwined. Overwhelming, seductive and a little awe-inspiring. My artwork conveys a sense of the tension and destruction in this perilous fight for survival.
My Australian landscape paintings form the basis of this new work. Imitating the powerful element of fire, a laser was used to burn the painted images into organic materials such as wood, enabling me to embody nature’s destructive power. Ironically, using fire on natural materials has also imbued the artwork with an arresting reflection on our precarious position of watching our world respond to man’s destructive tendencies.

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I graduated in B.Ed Visual Arts (Painting) at the University of Melbourne and held my first solo exhibition at the George Paton Gallery in 1992. I have practiced my Art making and exhibited my artworks in solo and group exhibitions since then.

I have had a great interest in Australia’s First Nation people and their spiritual connection to this land for many years. I have been fortunate to be invited onto country by indigenous leaders in significant places such as Tiwi Islands, Gunditjamara and Barmah Forest, (Yorta Yorta).
These authentic experiences have been influential on my artworks and given me a strong sense of connection to the ancient land that is Australia. They have also helped me uncover my own ancestral links to the Lennemerrtenner people of Northen Tasmania.

I have had several solo exhibitions of my artworks in Melbourne, most recently an exhibition of 24 paintings at Ladder Artspace in 2019. My artwork was featured in the international emerging artist magazine Art Ascent’s Water issue in 2019. I was also awarded Highly Commended for a painting in the 2019 Portland Art Show.
Whilst based on Australian landscapes, my paintings are more an ongoing documentation of my spiritual journey of self-discovery.