Featured artist interviews.
Artists share their stories in a weekly series ‘About the Artist’ featured weekly. Discover more about Australian artists and creatives we know and love!
Claire Weaver
Hello! My name is Claire and I'm a Melbourne-based artist, originally from Brisbane. I have a background in Environmental Management and a part-time job in that field, but when it's a 'non-work' day for me, you'll find me trying to squeeze in some valuable time in my little art studio - a spare room (now full of art mess) in the home that I share with my husband and two children.
Patti Emmilia P.
I’m Patti-the artist behind Patti Emmilia Art based in Perth, WA.
I’m also a mum of many hats in a family of six, raising four beautiful little humans (almost 10, 8, 5 and 3), so life is wonderfully full—and often a little wild. Creativity has been part of me for as long as I can remember, and painting has become more than a passion; it’s my therapy.
Sam Matthews
Hi, I'm Sam Matthews and art has always been a part of my life. Originally from Townsville, where I studied a Bachelor of Visual Arts at James Cook University.
After UNI I worked as a Senior Graphic Designer at Network Ten Brisbane. Over the last eight years I've been steadily developing my painting practice and this year I started working for myself.
Severine Pecoraro
I have four children, triplets and our youngest son. I live in Brisbane and have always been interested in all things creative.
Lisa Kerr
I live with my family in the east of Melbourne near 100 acres of bushland. Nature has always filled my cup, so I feel really blessed to have this on my doorstep.
I studied graphic design, married a landscaper, became a landscape designer, and in the last few years picked up the paintbrushes again to paint botanically inspired art.
Emily Snowdon
I’m Emily, the face behind this Emily Snowdon artist. I’m a 27 year old artist on Bunurong land (Mornington). My main gig is being a Social Worker (was on the covid ward, currently working in Women’s and children’s) I also run a sip and paint business @blanc_kanvas_ check it out if it takes ya fancy 🎨 🍷
Emma Darrouzet
I’ve been painting my whole life, my Nan was an artist and she taught me how to paint when I was a little girl. It is my absolute passion. My little boy Francis started school this year so I took the year off work I am a Mumma of 3 beautiful children, a puppy (Pepper) and a mini pig (Dottie). Dottie and Pepper are my studio buddies. My day job (aside from painting): I’m a a Head of Inclusion and Diverse Learning - which means I help schools and teachers to design, implement and teach curriculum that is inclusive and caters to all students in the classroom.
Rhonda Pawlowski
I’m a doctor and for the past 10 years have worked in pathology, a very visual job, looking down the microscope diagnosing diseases.
Sadly this has often been diagnosing cancer, and my job also involved helping families with the deaths of loved ones, which I consider a privilege. I found myself drawn to bright colour, to make sure joy was brought into the everyday, at work, at home.
I was always a creative, arty kid, then a creative arty adult, and painting is my outlet, but after seeing so much suffering I wanted to share it with others, to brighten their spaces, their days.
These days I make more art, which brings me joy, and spend some of my time helping mums and babies as a lactation consultant doctor.
Joanna Touma
I’m an 43 year old abstract artist based in Sydney, specialising in large textural pieces. I work with all kinds of mixed media including resin, texture pastes, plaster, concrete, alcohol inks, gold leaf just to name a few. Having 3 teens, a husband and Frenchie at home that need me, I love working from my studio at home, having the flexibility to stop and start work when needed.
Sally Garrett
I am currently living and working on Wurundjeri Country, Naarm (Melbourne.) I grew up in Queensland and I have a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Illustration from the Queensland College of Art. I continued to paint and exhibit, alongside travelling, becoming a mother and working as a visual merchandiser and production assistant for a small boutique in Fitzroy. Its closure amidst Melbourne's long Covid lockdowns allowed me the time to reignite a passion for drawing and painting, firstly creating still life works with oil pastels and then developing these into paintings. I had a successful exhibition in November 2022 at Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy and was named as an affordable artist to collect in 2023 by The Design Files.
Steph Fitzsimons
I am a Canberra based artist who currently loves painting floral still life’s, that are picked from my kitchen garden or surrounding bushland of Canberra. My process involves being visually delighted with a flower in my garden or on a bushwalk. It is so pleasing to mix colours for flowers that are growing around my home as they seem to reflect the light of the season. The flowers form an arrangement using the principles of Ikebana. I enjoy the math’s and structure of Japanese floral arrangements. The process of positioning and measuring the height of the flowers is so calming and helps form a mental artwork in my mind’s eye. From the Ikebana arrangement I make a pencil analysis of the shapes and lines I can see that form a pleasing structure for the painting.
Amanda Laing
I am totally distracted by creativity and aesthetics and a huge fan of the natural world. Before having family I had a creative career in commercial Interior Design working and living in Melbourne. After kids I did various casual jobs including relief teaching in primary schools, teaching kids art workshops and estimating for interior design products. I have a very supportive family who put up with my constant cluttering of the kitchen table with creative projects and a house full of bits and pieces foriaged from the wilderness. I have a large collection of vegemite bottles full of natural treasures and trinkets. Born in Australia, I have a Dutch Father from a very creative family of makers, musicians and artists who migrated to Australia in the 1950’s. Observing them as a child, I am sure had a huge creative influence, as well as being highly entertaining ie. many bad jokes, lots of loud singing and opinions and salty fish and liquorice treats brghhh!
Lara Tees
I create contemporary landscapes and abstract art from my Melbourne studio. I love the Australian landscape, and I take much of my inspiration from the colours and textures of this amazing country. I've lived on three continents and my family is widely dispersed. This influences my work, which explores connections - what it means to call a place home, what it feels like to belong. My work captures the experience of being in a place - the sights, sounds, and feelings that it evokes.
MR Sista
I'm Meg one half of MR sista - two sisters located in Bathurst, regional NSW. We’ve both always been in our happiest places when creating, designing and ‘making things look good’. We both work in healthcare and MR sista is our creative outlet, I have a passion for rugged earthy tones and textures and love to add materials such as plaster and sand to my works.
Abby McCahery
Originally from Scotland, I have been living in Australia since 2013. Having been an artist at heart my whole life and always been drawn to studying people and animals, I completed a diploma in portraiture at Heatherley’s School of fine art in London, Chelsea.
Since then, my style has evolved a lot into something that more suits my personality. My paintings are based on my reality, memories and dreams and I work with both oil and acrylic on canvas. I love working with a mixture of brushes and palettes knives to keep colours raw and vibrant, creating interesting textures.
Andy Sumner
I'm a self-taught painter who has always loved all things art, but due to life circumstances I was only able to pick up a paint brush later in life. Through painting I've been able to express my love of nature, explore memories and ideas, and express deep feelings that I'd be unable to otherwise - it has been a wonderfully therapeutic experience, opening up windows in my soul, if that makes sense.
Elisha McGuckin
Creative to my bones. I get all the feels when I see beautifully curated movies and can't help but move when I hear music. I am in awe of nature, but terrified to ever try recreate that beauty.
I work endlessly in my studio while simultaneously being housewife to an incredibly supportive partner and mother to my 2 beautifully creative little girls.
I am insanely busy but passionately driven, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Aimilia Papetta
My name is Aimilia Papetta, i am a 26 years old self-taught artist recently moved to Melbourne. I am a day time Psychologist and night time artist. Art is my own therapy, it helps me find a deeper and calmer part of myself. Every time I paint I connect with my inner self and I use the canvas as an expression of my passion.
Misha Harrison
Hey! My name is Misha Harrison, I am a 32 year old female from Wollongong, NSW.
I have been a creative my whole life, but only found my artistic ‘niche’ about three years ago.
My art explores materiality and process through three-dimensional still life artworks. Each artwork comprises of intricately hand cut, painted and embroidered plywood. The artworks translate real life arrangements of flowers, drapery and objects into three-dimensional artworks that combine sculpture, painting and textile practices.
The notion of the handmade is crucial to my work. I relate to core notions of the Art and Craft Movement of the mid 19th Century where artists like William Morris believed that mass produced and readymade items lack soul. My artworks mirror this notion which I believe is a conversation that is relevant now more than ever. I express my soul and the beauty of handmade items through my craftsmanship in wood, embroidery and painting.
My artworks are like big jigsaw puzzles, every piece of the artwork slots into its place. The process of creation is much like a puzzle also. There is a lot of problem solving involved in my practice. Piece by piece the artwork slowly reveals itself to me.

