I have always drawn inspiration from images found within ‘National Geographic, Vogue and trashy gossip magazine. There my imagination found a world of fantasy created by the vibrancy of expression in exotic cultures. Stark beauty expressed through bright colours, elaborate dress, adornment of jewellery and symbols of one selves’ identity and culture. Women in beautiful dresses convey mystery, strength, but also extreme fragility. The stark contrast between nature and hyper-stylized beauty.

My work primarily focuses on traditionally beautiful women in flowing colourful garments – and flirts with the relationship of flesh and fabric to modesty and identity. After travelling through South-East Asia, Europe and the Middle East I was personally confronted by the different ways women are treated through their appearance and clothing.

As a child I would spend my free time creating collages cut from fashion magazines, designing barbie dresses and escaping to the nature reserve beside my family home. I would spend hours picking flowers, photographing butterflies and catching tadpoles all the while being entranced by bellbird calls. As cheesy it sounds, I believe much of my art is a reflection of me reconnecting with that treasured memory of my childhood.