When Morning Breaks

This painting was inspired by that brief moment just after sunrise, when the light cuts through the forest and everything feels awake but still quiet.

The early sun becomes the focal point here, glowing through dense foliage and casting warm yellows and oranges against cooler blues, greens and violets. I wanted the light to feel strong but not harsh — more like a steady presence moving through the trees.

The three Carnaby’s black cockatoos passing through the scene add a sense of movement and life. They’re not the subject as such, but part of the rhythm of the forest — something you notice, then watch disappear.

As with all my work, I began with an acrylic underpainting before building up layers of oil paint to bring depth, colour and atmosphere. This piece is about light, space, and that calm energy you feel at the start of the day.

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I’m a Western Australian landscape artist based in Perth, creating original oil and acrylic paintings inspired by light, atmosphere and the natural world around me.

Although I always loved drawing as a child, painting became a serious part of my life much later. After years focused on work, family and competitive sport, I rediscovered creativity in the early 2000's and soon began studying oil painting at the Claremont School of Art in Perth.

Over time my work has evolved from careful observation toward a more atmospheric and expressive approach. Rather than focusing on strict realism, I’m increasingly interested in capturing the feeling of being immersed in a landscape — shifting light through trees, distant weather, quiet gardens and the changing colour of the Australian environment.

Western Australia plays a strong influence in my work, particularly the unique quality of light, native flora and open spaces that surround us.

My paintings combine layered colour, expressive brushwork and recognisable form, allowing areas of the image to soften and dissolve up close while still maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere and place.

Above all, I hope the work encourages people to pause, slow down and feel a sense of calm and connection to the landscape.