My artwork is inspired totally by the beauty and fine details of nature. I am constantly captivated by the intricacies and life cycles of plants and hope to bring those details into my work. I always draw directly from nature, often studying a specimen for a full twelve months before the initial sketch to ensure a total understanding of the botany behind my illustration.
I adore working predominantly in watercolour paint & graphite. Watercolour for me is extremely meditative. I am easily fixated on colour mixing to find the best match to nature’s incredible palette. I love all of the different techniques that bring a huge range of depth to my paintings, from entail washes to dry brushing, every stage is a true joy.
Living at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne’s outer east, I am literally surrounded by breathtaking views, glorious gardens and some of Australia’s finest plant growers here in the Yarra Valley, which supply me with infinite inspiration. I also find my own garden to be a great resource, if I am not in the studio painting, you’ll likely find me there!
I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to embrace my passion for botanical art/illustration as a full-time career. My background in photography has married up beautifully, enriching my love of light, shadow, colour and texture which I try to convey in my artwork. Also continued education and exploring different teaching techniques always invigorates my passion for creating. I hope to one day have students of my own to share in this remarkable journey.
Being Australian born, it is paramount for me to provide a quality, locally made and eco-friendly product. All of the processes from printing to packaging are done using Australian made sustainable materials.
Making a Difference
Environmental Ethos:
Environmental transparency is really important to us, Working closely with nature makes you very protective of it. Original paintings are mostly done on 300gsm Arches paper. The paper is actually 100%cotton rag and is totally recyclable/biodegradable. Paints used are either Winsor and Newton, Schmincke or Daniel Smith. Pigments used to manufacture the paint are Cadmium free and mostly compounded from natural minerals mixed with Gum Arabic. Brushes are made with sable hairs which are biodegradable or recyclable. Giclee prints are produced using sustainable ink then printed on Hahnemuhle Bamboo 290gsm which is 90% bamboo and 10% cotton. All used is either recyclable or biodegradable. Cello sleeves are used to protect prints/paintings from handling damage, dust and water damage. These sleeves are great to reuse or recycle at Woolworths Australia wide or use your computer search engine with words to the effect of “plastic recycling near me” to view your local disposal site. We endeavour to be as light-footed on our planet as possible. Please email us if you have an idea how we could further reduce our impact.
Australian supply chain:
COVID-19 showed us all that supporting local business & buying Australian Made has never been more important. That in mind, we have tried to use only products made here in Australia buy small family businesses. All of our printing is done here in Melbourne (as above), our tea towels are designed, manufactured, printed and sewn here in Melbourne. Our marketing and packaging materials are all manufactured in Melbourne. There are numerous products constantly being sourced for our customers and we don’t source outside of Australia.
