About Me

I have worked as a visual artist and graphic designer for over 20 years, having received a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) from Newcastle University, majoring in Plant and Wildlife Illustration.

I worked freelance as an illustrator for publishers in Sydney, before moving to Western Australia in 2000. Whilst working as a graphic designer for CLE Town Planning and Design, I did some planning of a different sort, creating WA’s very own national art prize – The Lester Prize (previously the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture).

As its founder and Executive Director for ten years, I was delighted to see it grow into Australia’s third richest portrait prize and the only one of its kind in WA.

In 2013 I was awarded the City of Perth Premiers Active Citizenship Award for my contribution to the arts and in 2018 I was honored to become a Patron of the prize. The Lester Prize is now proudly exhibited at the Art Gallery of WA each year with more than 10,000 visitors viewing the portraits on display.

Following its success I resigned in 2017 to return to my own creative practice.

In 2023 I was honoured to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for my contribution to the arts.

I now live in a rainforest with my partner Matt Ottley in a small village in the Northern Rivers, NSW, and spend time moving between painting, drawing, writing, curating, creating children’s books … and drinking chai!

I am inspired by nature, people and the world at large.

Artworks

I love creating art that spans a variety of genres. The fun for me is in exploring creativity;  from intricate, detailed works of nature, through to more surreal  and abstract works, I hope you find something that you like.

To view works from particular styles/genres or exhibition series click on the links below:

Limited edition prints and original artworks are available for purchase through my shop. Commissions are also welcome, just contact me via email.

Books

I LOVE books; reading, writing and illustrating them!

I am inspired by authors and illustrators such as Dr Seuss, Bill Peet, Hergé (Georges Remi) and Arthur Rackham, and particularly enjoy children’s picture books and novels that are a little different.

I also like to think a little differently 😉

I am currently working on two adult novels and two children’s picture book series, and am loving the challenge of moving between different genres, words and pictures.

Books for children

Monkey’s Great Adventures, my first children’s book series, combines my love of travel and adventure with my appreciation and respect for the traditional hand-made crafts, combining real life scenes with knitted characters in an imaginative series that plays with the idea of children believing their favourite toys are real.

Afloat in Venice is the first book in this series and was released in 2021.  The Messy Bath Monster is the second book in the series and will be released in 2025.

Monkey's Great Adventures by Tina Wilson and Joan Wilson

Books for adults

I recently designed and illustrated author Nicholas Bennett’s beautiful science/poetry/philosophy/art book, The Dying Alchemists. The challenge of creating artworks for topics so vast as the Universe was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m still left pondering our incredible existence.

Day by Day, poem by Nicholas Bennett with illustration of falling autumn leaves by Tina Wilson

Contact Me

Hi,

Thank you for visiting my website.
Please feel welcome to get in touch with me via the form below. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Tina Wilson