Happy Australia Day! Thought I should share an update on a little project I started last year, a collection of Aussie birds and animal illustrations for the nursery or a kids bedroom.

To start with I do loads of quick sketches looking a photos to help determine what are the key shapes and positionings I want to go with. Add some colour with pen and then rework them on the computer.




I've got a long way to go before I've got a full set of Australian birds and animals, but so far I couldn't be happier with these guys. Prints are available from creative monsoon on etsy and down that little lane.

Going through my old journals and CDs today (kids, CDs are these silver round things we used to store stuff) I found the start of a very cool looking piece I did in 2004, a digital collage using Japanese obi fabric and my own hand drawn chrysanthemums. I decided to revive it and turn it into a little floral kaleidoscope, wash of colour, and ta da! Never throw stuff out! Love the way it really seems to draw you into the centre.

Prints available through artfind and etsy

new work: digital mixed media collage print
inspired by my time spent living in New Zealand, some of my favourite things - the tui bird, mountains, lakes and amazing night sky. 
over 30 different layers of texture and images have been put together to create this mountain and lake landscape. 
the mountain range was made up of recycled security envelope lining, then layers of photographs such as pacific island carving and tree bark, vintage and modern illustration and washes of watercolour added.

I've been working on something new for the past couple of weeks with kaleidoscopic photography and more silhouettes - this time bugs! Bugs and beetles creep me out, especially when they decided to run across your top at a dinner party like last week! But, they are pretty amazing when you take a closer look. So I thought I'd combine some of the kaleidoscope images of rocks, geodes and crystals I'd been putting together with some cut out shapes. Who knew bugs could be so pretty. Prints are available from my etsy and hard to find stores and I'm busy working on more creepy crawly bling bugs.

Wow! I guess when you step back and take a look at it like this I have been a busy little bee! Lots of fun and colourful new nursery art prints all part of the rainbow bright range. I'm working on adding some more Aussie birds and animals too so watch this space. All available from creative monsoon and please get in touch if you'd like something custom such as your child name adding to a print.

Today is International Day of the Girl, a day dedicated to raising awareness about issues concerning gender inequality around the world. It's also the launch of ‪#‎makeforgood‬, an initiative from etsy Australia with Plan International to change the world for girls. I've created a special edition print just for the event and will be donating 50% of sales to the Because I am a Girl campaign. "Every cloud has a silver lining" is available from my etsy shop as a 10x8" print will real hand painted glitter.