Artist and maker of Things
I have been making art as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is a conversation I had with another child in kindergarten about whether you should draw people from the feet up or from the head down. I thought head down was the way to go because I thought that heads were the most important parts of humans (I still frequently have to remind myself that this isn’t true). My friend, rather pragmatically, told me that if you start with the feet you will never have the problem of having to draw a little hill for your person to stand on because their feet have ended up floating above the ground...
Art is like a second language to me and, when I write, I often feel as though I’m painting a picture in words.
I am an artist and author-illustrator who is passionate about science, the environment, and helping diverse kids find their voices though art and literature. My areas of interest include narrative fiction, narrative non-fiction, educational and editorial work. I have had a regular column in the children’s section of the Australian Mensa Magazine, writing and illustrating science topics such as the stuff-factories inside stars, how colour works, and how to care for native bees. Being a nerd at heart, I get pretty excited about researching, writing and illustrating interesting new topics. I am especially interested in life on different scales: the hugeness of the universe, our human scale compared to that of insects and tiny creatures, and the hidden microscopic world.
I work on paper in watercolour, pen and ink, and gouache. On canvas, I work in acrylic paints. I use digital media for graphic design, and have recently illustrated a children's book, Pippa and Dronie, using digital media. I also love printmaking and a variety of other makings. I believe that making stuff is vital to human wellbeing. I find meaning in creating both art and functional objects, and I love to share that process with others. Making stuff gives me a sense of connection and purpose that I can't do without.
I graduated from Claremont Art School with a Diploma in Fine Art and Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Community Development. I worked for 10 years as a Community Artist. During this time I completed a bunch of primary school artist residencies and community murals and was recipient of a CANWA Catalyst Grant. I was also recipient of a UWA grant that enabled the building of a community art studio for artists with disabilities. I also have a Certificate in Tinkering from Stanford University, which sparked a love of using art to teach science. I have run STEAM (STEM plus Art) classes and a Maker Club for curious kids in which we used art to explore science, technology and maths. I also ran a Narrative Art Club using kid's picture books to spark each lesson. I love helping kids work out how to tell their own stories using art.
I work from home, sometimes in my studio, sometimes outside in my garden. I am mother to a sassy 14 year old, door-opener to three cheeky felines, and corn-provider to a flock of feisty chooks.
Check out my folio on the Australian Society of Author's Illustration Style File.
You can also find my work on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators website.
For behind the scenes studio shots and sneak peaks of new projects, follow me on Instagram or facebook
Art is like a second language to me and, when I write, I often feel as though I’m painting a picture in words.
I am an artist and author-illustrator who is passionate about science, the environment, and helping diverse kids find their voices though art and literature. My areas of interest include narrative fiction, narrative non-fiction, educational and editorial work. I have had a regular column in the children’s section of the Australian Mensa Magazine, writing and illustrating science topics such as the stuff-factories inside stars, how colour works, and how to care for native bees. Being a nerd at heart, I get pretty excited about researching, writing and illustrating interesting new topics. I am especially interested in life on different scales: the hugeness of the universe, our human scale compared to that of insects and tiny creatures, and the hidden microscopic world.
I work on paper in watercolour, pen and ink, and gouache. On canvas, I work in acrylic paints. I use digital media for graphic design, and have recently illustrated a children's book, Pippa and Dronie, using digital media. I also love printmaking and a variety of other makings. I believe that making stuff is vital to human wellbeing. I find meaning in creating both art and functional objects, and I love to share that process with others. Making stuff gives me a sense of connection and purpose that I can't do without.
I graduated from Claremont Art School with a Diploma in Fine Art and Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Community Development. I worked for 10 years as a Community Artist. During this time I completed a bunch of primary school artist residencies and community murals and was recipient of a CANWA Catalyst Grant. I was also recipient of a UWA grant that enabled the building of a community art studio for artists with disabilities. I also have a Certificate in Tinkering from Stanford University, which sparked a love of using art to teach science. I have run STEAM (STEM plus Art) classes and a Maker Club for curious kids in which we used art to explore science, technology and maths. I also ran a Narrative Art Club using kid's picture books to spark each lesson. I love helping kids work out how to tell their own stories using art.
I work from home, sometimes in my studio, sometimes outside in my garden. I am mother to a sassy 14 year old, door-opener to three cheeky felines, and corn-provider to a flock of feisty chooks.
Check out my folio on the Australian Society of Author's Illustration Style File.
You can also find my work on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators website.
For behind the scenes studio shots and sneak peaks of new projects, follow me on Instagram or facebook
