Indigo Rosellas and Native Flora Ed. 6 of 50

I have been painting lots of Aussie birds recently. This pair of Rosellas in varying hues of Indigo are perched on the branches of a Banksia tree. The botanicals on the tree and the leaf motifs along the bottom of the page are my own stylised versions of the native specimens I collect on my walks around my neighbourhood.

I enjoy working on heavy watercolour paper with calligraphy brushes and using a limited colour palette – usually one or two colours. I have been captivated by old botanical and animal engravings since I was a child, and this, as well as my love of Chinese ornament is the inspiration behind much of my work.

This is a limited edition Giclée print of 50 on thick textured watercolour paper using archival inks. All prints are hand signed, numbered, catalogued and come with a certificate of authenticity.

This artwork is sold unframed and is carefully wrapped and rolled into a cardboard tube for safe shipping.

Purchase of this artwork does not include reproduction rights. Artwork cannot be copied or used without the artist’s prior permission.

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I’ve been making art for most of my life, though the path here hasn’t been completely straightforward. What was meant to be a one-year trip from the UK to Sydney in 1994 somehow turned into a permanent move, and Australia has felt like home ever since.
A lot of my work begins outdoors; walking, noticing plants growing through fences, strange colour combinations in nature, or bringing home flowers and cuttings to paint in the studio. Painting has always been a way for me to slow down and pay attention. It’s where I feel most myself.
Before returning to painting full-time in 2015, I worked across surface pattern design, printmaking and graphic design, and those influences still shape the way I paint today; through colour, rhythm, line and composition. I’m also deeply inspired by the simplicity and spontaneity of Chinese and Japanese ink painting, calligraphy and woodblock prints, though my work has gradually evolved into something much looser and more contemporary over time.
Since returning to full-time practice, my work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Australia and selected as a finalist in prizes including the Calleen Art Award, Lethbridge Prize, Bluethumb Art Prize and the National Contemporary Watercolour Prize. My paintings and prints have also been licensed onto homewares and collected internationally.
I still feel genuinely grateful that I get to spend my days painting, and I hope that sense of joy, calm and curiosity finds its way into the work itself.