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) which places artists and the community proudly front and centre.
As its founder and Executive Director for ten years, I was delighted to see it grow into Australia’s richest portrait prize.
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 WA Museum Boola Bardic each year.
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 also have the immense pleasure of being co-director for the amazing live performance initiative, The Sound of Picture Books.
I am inspired by nature, people and the world at large.