I grew up in a coastal town and have always loved drawing, painting, and artwork. As a child, I attended primary school art groups after school instead of playing sports. I enjoyed learning different techniques and spending time creating things.

Some of my fondest memories are of my neighbours, an English couple in their 80s. The man taught me woodworking, how to use tools, and how to make small projects. The woman taught me needlework and other crafts, sharing her knowledge and encouraging me to try new things. Those times with them were special and taught me the joy of creativity and hands-on work

I’ve always wanted to do something with the arts. As a child, I was drawn to creative fields. Growing up, I decided I wanted to be an artist and work in the arts.

In my early adult life, I studied fashion design, became a fashion designer and ran my own business for many years. That business was the first of two I’ve operated, and it was an exciting and rewarding experience that I started in my mid-twenties.

I moved here specifically because, when my son was little, we were deciding between the Sunshine Coast and the Northern Rivers area. We were drawn to the strong sense of community here, and we had relatives in The Channon, which made it a natural choice. We house-sat in the area and were able to get a real feel for the area, which helped solidify our decision to settle here.

I studied arts in my late 20’s and qualified with a Diploma in Fine Arts, then went on to Uni to complete my Bachelor in Visual Arts. After completing my studies, I worked at the Ballina Art Gallery, focusing on public programming and community projects. From there, I established teaching and running art classes for kids and adults and moved into more activities, such as specialised printmaking classes. I moved into Flourish Gallery and Studio in South Lismore a few months before the flood.

The flood was devastating, with water reaching 60 cm from the roof. I had to redo everything from scratch, which was a lot of hard work. But people in Lismore are, for lack of a better word, resilient and full of fortitude. 

I rebuilt the space and had an incredible crew of friends and helpers who stepped in to support me. They helped with painting, scrubbing, and all the hard work needed to get everything back into shape. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to reopen by August 2022, which felt like a huge milestone after everything that had happened.

Since then, the space has really come alive. We’ve hosted a wide range of facilitators who have taught many courses, including weaving, landscape painting, drawing, abstract art, and printmaking. It’s been wonderful to see so many creative minds come through and share their talents. We’re always open to welcoming new facilitators to teach in the space, which keeps things fresh and exciting. The gallery has also stayed busy, with a rotation of monthly artists exhibiting their work.

The gallery program is booked until the end of this year, which is exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing how South Lismore and the rail trail develop, as we expect it will bring an influx of visitors to the area.

Along with the gallery, we’ve also got a gift shop, and we’re on the lookout for artists to supply work for it. We want to offer visitors the chance to take a little piece of Lismore home with them, and supporting local artists in the process is a great way to do that. 

What initially motivated me to do what I do was my experience working in the field. I saw an opportunity to create a gallery that focused on professional, practising artists and gave them a platform to exhibit their work. At the same time, I wanted to offer a creative learning space where people could come to learn and explore different artistic disciplines, helping them extend their creative knowledge and skills. It felt like a way to support both established artists and those wanting to develop their creativity. 

One of the biggest challenges I face at work is keeping up with everything, especially the admin and managing the exhibitions. It can get overwhelming at times. However, we have a small but amazing volunteer team, and their support has been incredibly helpful. It’s great to have them involved, as they really make a difference in keeping things running smoothly.

My work life is so interwoven with my daily life that a lot of what I do outside of work still revolves around my creativity. When I’m not at the studio or gallery, I enjoy sculpting, painting, and printmaking, working on my own artwork. It’s a way for me to stay connected to the creative process and continue exploring new techniques.

I also spend a lot of time thinking about the next creative classes I’ll be offering, brainstorming new ideas, and preparing for upcoming demos. Even outside of my official work hours, my passion for art and teaching remains a big part of my daily routine.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from my career is the importance of having goals and understanding how far you can realistically take them. It's crucial not to be disappointed if those goals don’t turn out exactly as you expect. Things don’t always go as planned, but staying focused on the bigger picture and being adaptable is key to moving forward and finding success, even if it looks different than you originally envisioned.

The most rewarding part of what I do is being able to inspire someone else’s creativity. It’s fulfilling to help others find the confidence in themselves to create without fear, guiding them in a direction where they feel empowered to express their ideas. 

Looking back at my career path so far, I’m most proud of a couple of key achievements. This year, we received a Lismore Business Award for Excellence in Micro Business, it was a wonderful and unexpected honour. Another achievement I’m proud of is that the gallery is moving into its second year. It’s been great to see the people who have come through the space and the progress made, and I’m excited to see where it’s heading in the future.  

My plans for the future are to keep the gallery moving forward, focusing on creating a thriving learning space where artists can teach, and people interested in the creative arts can come to learn a variety of disciplines from knowledgeable tutors. I also want to ensure the gallery remains a showcase for the incredible artists who live and work in the area, providing them with a platform to share their work with the community.