top of page

Biography

A multi-disciplinary artist based in Central Victoria, my work has grown out of a buddhist/ ecologist perspective.

 

Having graduated from Macquarie University with a major in Ecology and Molecular Genetics in 1976, I have worked at the National Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens (Sydney) and the University of Western Sydney before becoming a full-time art maker from the early 1980’s. Whilst much of my work since then is textile based, I call upon my drawing and photographic practice.

 

Many years of keen observation of my local bioregion have all contributed to an aesthetic that dwells upon underlying patterns and relationships inherent in this part of the world. The patterns of water drops on leaves, the way lichen spreads on sandstone or the manner in which trees co-inhabit the landscape is every bit as revelatory as great texts, painting or musical composition.

Art Prizes, Awards & Selected exhibitions

2024    National Contemporary Art Prize - Finalist - Canberra

               Australian Textile Art Award - Finalist - Embroiderers Guild Victoria

2023    Golden Textures - Contemporary Art Quilt. Central Goldfields Art Gallery -

               Viewers choice award

2020    Regional Arts Victoria - Regional Arts Relief Grant

2017/8  Art Quilt Australia - Yarra Valley Regional Gallery

2014     Hornsby Art Prize. Sydney

2004    Hobart Art Prize - selected exhibition - Hobart Art Gallery

2001     Hobart Art Prize - Fashion. Co-created with Paula Martin 

1998     Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - Tamworth City Art Gallery

1996     Stanthorpe Art Prize - Stanthorpe Regional Gallery, Queensland.

1995     Australia Council - Visual Arts & Crafts Board. Project Grant
1993     The Alice Art Prize - Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs                     

              Discerning Textiles - Investigations of Process & Structure - Goulburn Regional Gallery

              Inaugural Scholarship - Quilters’ Guild of N.S.W.
1992     Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - Tamworth City Art Gallery

1991      Threads of Journeys - Australian Quilt Textiles - Dpt. of Foreign Affairs & Trade

1990     Fibre & Text - selected travelling exhibition, Ararat Regional Gallery

              Blue Mountains Art Prize                                                                                                               

1988     Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - Tamworth City Art Gallery

1985,6,8 Australian Textile Art Prize - Awards of Merit
1986     Australia Council - Crafts Board - Project Development Grant

 

Solo Exhibitions (selected)

2022    The Arboreal Planet suite - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine

2020   Centre - exhibition of collages - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine 

              ArtsOpen - Castlemaine Victoria                                                   

2018     Stitched to everything...musings of an errant ecologist - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine

              ArtsOpen - Castlemaine Victoria                                                                                                    

2016     …stitched to everything in the universe… , drawings. Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine                

2009    The lie of the land - Hat Hill Gallery - Blue Mountains, N.S.W.
2004    X3 - solo exhibition - sculpture and painting. Gallery Lane Gallery. Leura
1993      Quilted Works - Fairmont Resort - Blue Mountains, N.S.W.                                                

1989      Full Circle - quilted & sculptured Textiles - Narek Gallery, A.C.T.                                                                                           

Group Exhibitions (selected) 

2024    Brunswick St Gallery Small Works Art Prize- mixed media, sculpture 

2023    Connections - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine

               Lot 19 Sculpture Prize, Castlemaine

2021     Journeys - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine

2018     Art Quilt Australia                                                                                                                              2017     Exhibition of Art quilts. Launceston. Tasmania.
2014     Waste to Art - Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Gallery. Blue Mountains     
2012     Regeneration - Contemporary Quilt Textiles. Manly Art Gallery & Museum                         2011     Winter Show - Papyrus Gallery - Leura. Textiles and Drawing
2010    Skin - Red Ant Gallery - Sydney. Photographs                                                                       

2009   Split infinitive - Kerry Lowe Gallery - Newtown. Mixed media and drawings                                         Art Quilt Australia 09 - Crafts Council ACT                                                                                 
2008   Paper, Rock Scissors - Ben Roberts Gallery - Lawson. Mixed media

              Tree/Creek - Ben Roberts Gallery - Lawson. Mixed media                                                         

2004   ICON - Images of the sacred - Blue Mountains. Drawing

2003   Blue Mountains Photographers - Katoomba

              Creative Mountains Artists - Dorrigo Arts Council. Painting                                            

1995     Textile exhibition - Gallery 43. Leura. N.S.W.1994     

              The New Quilt 1994 - Getting It Together. Manly, N.S.W                                     

              Colours of Australia - Quilters’ Guild N.S.W.
1993     Highly Irregular - Quilts not according to rule - Manly Regional Art Gallery                        1992     Australian Perspectives - works from six Australian Quilt Artists - Sydney                         

              Homage to the Idol - Contemporary Quilts - Manly Regional Art Gallery

1991      Threads of Life - Textile Art from Western Sydney - Lewers Regional Gallery

              The New Quilt - contemporary Australian Quilts - Manly Regional Art Gallery                     

 

Commissions & Collections

1994    Textile Sculpture     - Lloyds Bank. N.Z.
                                                 - National Pac. Sydney

                                                 - Concord General Hospital - Casualty Reception                                 1993    Two Textile/Quilted sculptures - Smith’s Crisps Head Office. Sydney                                                    Textile Sculpture - Heritage & Contemporary Art. Sydney                                                       1991     Three Quilted Works - Fairmont Resort. Leura
1988    Four Festival Banners - Blue Mountains City Council 

 

Publications 

2024   Textile - Fibre Forum. Issue no.153

2023   Textile - Fibre Forum. Issue no.151 

2021    Step into Paradise - Jenny Kee, Linda Jackson

2012    Textiles - The Art of Mankind by Mary Schoeser. Thames and Hudson                                    

2011     Textile - Fibre Forum. Issue no.101
2009   Textile - Fibre Forum.
1992     The Quilters Kaleidoscope - Dianne Finnegan - Simon & Schuster.                                                       Craft Art (Vol 25) - ‘Australian Perspectives’
1990     Piece by Piece - The Complete Book of Australian 

              Quiltmaking - Dianne Finnegan - Simon & Schuster.                                                                 1989     Australian Quilts - The People & their Art - Simon & Schuster.
1988     Quilt Australia - A national survey of contemporary Australian quiltmaking - Bay Books. 

 

Education & Experience 

2014     3D printing workshop series - with Three Farm - Blue Mountains City Gallery                       1996     Sculptural textiles with Jane Sauer (USA)
1995     Australian Network for Art & Technology. Summer School in Computer Design &                             Animation
1994     Master Creative Arts. - Wollongong University
1994     Mystical Symbols/Ritual Objects with Walter Nottingham (U.S.A.)                                     

1988     Textile Constructions with Joan Michels-Pacque (U.S.A.)

1976     B.Sc. (Macquarie University). Majoring in Molecular Genetics & Ecology

 

Freelance Work

1999-present: Set up ‘PerformingDesign’ - a partnership with Paula Martin specialising in corporate and theatrical design, Public art, scenic art, theatre design, sculpting & prop making, costume & mask designing & making. Clients have included: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney; Jenny Kee; National Parks & Wildlife Service; Sydney Theatre Co; Westfields, Sydney; Olympic Opening Ceremony; Hermes of Paris; Royal agricultural Society, Sydney; Blue Mountains City Council.

bottom of page