‘Meet you halfway’ 2022
91 x 122cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca
NFS

Based on a photo from the bush track between our two houses. Countless times through the newborn baby stage and covid lockdowns we would meet halfway, where mum would then take Audrey back to her house so I can go back home and paint or we would continue walking on together to get coffee.
Each walk through this track we watch the surroundings change with the seasons, admiring the colours and flora altering.

‘Always chasing waterfalls’ 2022
102 x 122cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca on canvas
SOLD

Almost every time we wander, most frequently when wandering to waterfalls, we are thrown a plot twist. Waitui Falls was no exception. After many days of rain, a trip out of the house was needed. Making it through the roughest, most pot-hole filled road that had our two year old shouting “no more bumpies!”, we encountered a recently fallen tree across the road that would put an end to our adventure… but it didn’t, we were able to keep the story ours. Equipped with gumboots, we jumped out of the car and over the tree, walking the remaining 1km to the falls. Jumping in puddles, piggy backs, and singing songs to try distract from the pain of carrying our daughter up and down hills. All entirely worth it to see a little face full of wonder from her first sight of a waterfall.

‘Walks to Wallabi Beach’ 2022
102 x 122cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

I haven’t slept in days, I haven’t washed my hair, I haven’t learnt each of my baby’s cries yet like they said I would. But what I do have is my mother by my side easing some of the pressure this morning. I have a momentarily peaceful baby falling asleep in the rocking pram. I have the sea breeze through my hair as I stand on the headland. I have a break in anxious thoughts as I watch the waves roll in below and swirl into rockpools. I have my first deep breath for the day.

‘Ellenborough Falls’ 2022
102 x 122cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

When my husband and I first started dating we were fitness fanatics. We thought it would be ‘fun’ to tackle the 641 stairs at Ellenborough Falls at a cardio pace rather than a leisurely one… we got to the bottom red faced and jelly legged. Perched upon rocks to catch our breath, it took a few moments to begin absorbing our surroundings. Any thought of exhaustion soon became muffled by the sound of streaming water falling. White noise for a tired baby. Time slowed as I focused on the trickles of water, observing each path they took down glistening wet rocks leading to the pool below. That day began our love affair with waterfalls.

‘Patchwork blanket’ 2022
102 x 102cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca on canvas
$1850 contact [email protected]

A humid, rainy afternoon. Audrey refused to sleep and cheer up so we took off for a spontaneous drive. We ended up at Crowdy Bay National Park. Audrey somehow fell asleep in the back mid bumpy dirt road driving. Soft trickles of rain on us was a relief on such a hot day as we jumped out of the car to take pictures of unusual plant life and charred paper bark trees. I was fascinated with the beachside scene we arrived at. The plants up on the sandy entrance were varied, textural, vibrant, highly saturated greens against the dark ashy brown sand and still-burnt sticks from fires two years ago. It was like a large patchwork blanket thrown over the dune. In the distance the rain was misty and I was completely in awe of this moody scene that instantly fuelled my creativity.

‘Awaken’ 2022
61 x 76cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

Can you imagine what it’s like to be seeing new colours and shapes and feeling new textures every day? This thought crossed my mind after a walk with my then five month old daughter where she discovered flowers for the first time. It wasn’t something I would have considered to be substantial until I saw the way her tiny fingers traced softly over petals and how excited she became each time we approached more of another colour. A reminder of how even the small things are big, bright and bold to a baby in this even bigger, brighter, bolder world. How brilliantly overwhelming for the senses. Each walk thereafter became slower and more considerate of nature around us. Every detail is noteworthy and this transposed to my paintings.

‘Whispers in the sand’ 2022
61 x 76cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

As the sun was setting, my feet walked bare on the cool sand. A light breeze bristling through the soft beach grass. Whispy and delicate in the way each strand fell to the side. Soft chatter and laughter drifted through the air from my family further down the beach behind me. Family photos, a picnic with cheese and wine, a memorable beginning of the holiday season to mark our baby’s first Christmas.

‘Saltwater flow’ 2022
61 x 76cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca on canvas
$880 contact [email protected]

Between the tangled viewfinder of charcoal trees the waves dance towards the shoreline. Early Saturday morning a school of surfers, bobbing and gliding in the ocean at Saltwater Beach. Other beach goers begin to cascade down the paths to the warming sand. Here we rest, observe a summer’s day before the long walk home.

‘Cattai Wetlands’ 2022
61 x 76cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

A place where the birds gather in vast variety, bathing by the lily pads and singing amongst the trees. Strolling along the boardwalks, appreciating the way the morning sun both warms my skin and sparkles on the pond where the black swans glide.

‘Bush driving’ 2022
61 x 61cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca on canvas
SOLD

Another one of those days with a child refusing to nap and the afternoon was dragging on. Jumping in the ute we got Audrey psyched up and cheering “BUSH DRIVING!”, though having no idea what that entailed. Down the road to Kiwarrak forest we had some fun, bouncing around on the dirt road, pointing out the tracks daddy rides his mountain bike on and stopping to take little photos of foliage. Audrey discovered a huge patch of dandelions to pick and blow whilst I was mesmerised by the way sunlight turned particular leaves iridescent green. 

‘Picnic spot’ 2022
61 x 61cm
acrylic, oil pastel & posca on canvas
SOLD

The plan was a morning out at Seal Rocks but mother nature had plans of her own. With too much rain to step a single foot onto the beach, we turned back to grab some takeaway lunch at Blueys Beach. We thought we would sit in the beach carpark out there and eat before driving home but the rain cleared up and I instantly spotted a perfect little picnic spot all to ourselves. Our view; the beach, the mountain, the rocks and the small sandy stream of water by our side. After lunch Audrey ran straight down the beach and Aaron had to catch her before the watersedge and they danced around with glee. I took off to explore the rocks that were like sharp layers of slate. A perfect outing after all. As we arrived back at the car, the skies opened up with rain again. I slid peacefully into my seat and thanked mother nature for her assistance.

‘Possum Brush’ 2022
51 x 51cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

An escape from reality isn’t far, expensive or complicated. It is heading somewhere remote, spent with loved ones amongst the trees, as we did at Clarendon Forest Retreat. Our furry friends welcomed the short break too as they leapt around with the kangaroos and took walks with us around the property. Before covid, before Audrey, just us and the slowing of time in serene Possum Brush. Painting together en plein air, some wine, some music playing and belly laughs deep into the night. 

‘Pondering’ 2022
51 x 51cm
acrylic & posca on canvas
SOLD

Spring by the pond at the end of our estate. Blossoms of plenty on the trees swaying side to side. Ducks calm and undisturbed. The only sounds I focused on were the rustling of flora in the breeze and the path crunching beneath my feet as I strolled.