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.
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Falt - textile work. Castlemaine. Victoria
2022 The Arboreal Planet suite - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria
2020 Centre - exhibition of collages - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria
ArtsOpen - Castlemaine. Victoria
2018 Stitched to everything...musings of an errant ecologist - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria
ArtsOpen - Castlemaine Victoria 2016 …stitched to everything in the universe… , - drawings. Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria
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. N.S.W.
1993 Quilted Works - Fairmont Resort - Blue Mountains, N.S.W.
1989 Full Circle - quilted & sculptured Textiles - Narek Gallery, A.C.T.
1988 Quilted Works - Braemar Gallery, Springwood. N.S.W.
1987 Quilts & Painted/Printed Textiles - Yartz Gallery, Sydney. N.S.W.
Invitational Exhibitions
1993 Discerning Textiles - Investigations of Process & Structure - Goulburn Regional Gallery.
1991 Threads of Journeys - Australian Quilt Textiles - Dpt.Foreign Affairs & Trade.
1990 Fibre & Text - travelling exhibition - Ararat Regional Gallery. Victoria.
Juried Group Exhibitions
2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Prize - Finalist - South Australian Museum, Adelaide.
Bound by Thread - Glen Eira City Council Gallery - Melbourne. Victoria.
2025 Experimental Print Prize - Finalist - Castlemaine Art Museum, Victoria
Sorrento Art Prize - Finalist - & Gallery, Sorrento, Victoria
Flanagan’s Art Prize - Finalist - St Patrick’s College, Ballarat
Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award. Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough
Art Quilt Australia 25 - winner - Yarra Ranges Regional Museum
Omnia Prize - Finalist - St Kevin’s College Toorak. Victoria - photography
2024 National Contemporary Art Prize - Highly Commended - finalist - Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
Australian Textile Art Award - finalist - Embroiderers Guild Victoria
2023 Golden Textures - Contemporary Art Quilt. - Viewers Choice - Central Goldfields Art Gallery. Victoria
2017/8 Art Quilt Australia - Yarra Valley Regional Gallery. Victoria.
2014 Hornsby Art Prize - finalist - Sydney. N.S.W.
2012 Regeneration - Contemporary Quilt Textiles. Manly Art Gallery & Museum
2009 Art Quilt Australia 09 - Crafts Council. ACT.
2004 Hobart Art Prize - Hobart Art Gallery. Tasmania
2003 Creative Mountains Artists - Dorrigo Arts Council. Painting. N.S.W
2001 Hobart Art Prize - Fashion - finalist - Co-created with Paula Martin - Hobart Art Gallery. Tasmania
1998 Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - finalist - Tamworth City Art Gallery. N.S.W
Infinity and the Mind - Arts & Astronomy - Sydney Cove Authority Gallery. Sydney.
1996 Stanthorpe Art Prize - finalist - Stanthorpe Regional Gallery, Queensland.
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. N.S.W The Alice Art Prize - Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
1992 Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - Tamworth City Art Gallery. N.S.W.
Australian Perspectives - works from six Australian Quilt Artists - Sydney. N.S.W Homage to the Idol - Contemporary Quilts - Manly Regional Art Gallery
1991 Threads of Life - Textile Art from Western Sydney - Lewers Regional Gallery. N.S.W
The New Quilt - contemporary Australian Quilts - Manly Regional Art Gallery. N.S.W
1990 Blue Mountains Art Prize - Blue Mountains. N.S.W. 1988 Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition - Tamworth City Art Gallery. N.S.W.
1985,6,8 Australian Textile Art Prize - Awards of Merit. Sydney. N.S.W
Non-Juried Group Exhibitions
2024 Brunswick St Gallery Small Works Art Prize - mixed media, sculpture. Melbourne. Victoria.
Lot 19 Sculpture prize - Castlemaine. Victoria.
2023 Connections - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria.
Lot 19 Sculpture Prize, Castlemaine. Victoria.
2021 Journeys - Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine. Victoria. 2017 Exhibition of Art quilts. Launceston. Tasmania.
2014 Waste to Art - Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Gallery. Blue Mountains. N.S.W.
2011 Winter Show - Papyrus Gallery - Textiles and Drawing. Leura. N.S.W.
2010 Skin - Red Ant Gallery - Photographs. Sydney. N.S.W.
2009 Split infinitive - Kerry Lowe Gallery - Mixed media and drawings. Newtown. N.S.W.
Art Quilt Australia 09 - Crafts Council ACT
2008 Paper, Rock, Scissors - Ben Roberts Gallery - Lawson. N.S.W. Mixed media
Tree/Creek - Ben Roberts Gallery - Lawson. N.S.W. Mixed media
2004 ICON - Images of the sacred - Blue Mountains. N.S.W. Drawing
2003 Blue Mountains Photographers - Katoomba. N.S.W.
Creative Mountains Artists - Dorrigo Arts Council. N.S.W. Painting
1995 Textile exhibition - Gallery 43. Leura. N.S.W.
1994 Colours of Australia - Quilters’ Guild N.S.W.
1992 Australian Perspectives - works from six Australian Quilt Artists - Sydney. N.S.W.
Homage to the Idol - Contemporary Quilts - Manly Regional Art Gallery. N.S.W.
Awards
2025 First Prize (acquired by National Wool Museum) - Expressions Wool Quilt Prize - Art Quilt Australia 25 - Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. Victoria.
2024 Highly Commended - National Contemporary Art Prize - Aarwun Gallery, Canberra. ACT
2023 Viewers Choice - Golden Textures - Contemporary Art Quilt. Central Goldfields Art Gallery. Victoria.
2020 Regional Arts Relief Grant - Regional Arts Victoria
1995 Project Development Grant - Australia Council - Visual Arts & Crafts Board.
1993 Inaugural Scholarship - Quilters’ Guild of N.S.W.
1990 First Prize - Blue Mountains Art Prize - Fibre category. N.S.W. 1985,6,8 Awards of Merit - Australian Textile Art Prize. Australian Textile Museum. Sydney. NSW
1986 Project Development Grant - Australia Council - Crafts Board.
Publications, Press and Media
2024 Fibre Art Now - “Vivid Fibre” - Volume 15. Issue no.2
2024 Textile - Fibre Forum. Issue no.153
2023 Textile - Fibre Forum. Issue no.151
2021 Step into Paradise - Jenny Kee, Linda Jackson. Powerhouse Museum. Sydney. N.S.W.
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 - ‘Australian Perspectives’- Vol 25
1990 Piece by Piece - The Complete Book of Australian Quiltmaking - Dianne Finnegan 1989 Australian Quilts - The People & their Art - Simon & Schuster.
1988 Quilt Australia - A national survey of contemporary Australian Quiltmaking - Bay Books.
Installations and Collections
Multiple private collections.
2016 Textile quilted work - National Wool Museum, Geelong. Victoria.
1995 Textile quilted work - Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. N.S.W.
1994 Textile Sculptures - Lloyds Bank. N.Z. & National Pac. N.S.W. & Concord General Hospital. N.S.W.
1993 Two Textile/Quilted sculptures - Smith’s Crisps Head Office. Sydney. N.S.W. Textile Sculpture - Heritage & Contemporary Art. Sydney. N.S.W. 1991 Three Quilted Works - Fairmont Resort. Leura. N.S.W.
1988 Four Festival Banners - Blue Mountains City Council. N.S.W.
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; Blue Mountains City Council.