It’s late afternoon on Lake Orr in Varsity Lakes and a lone pelican glides gracefully through the water. On the surface, it appears to slide through the water as if on a conveyor belt, leaving only the smallest of wakes behind.

Serene beauty. Nature at its wonderful best.

This piece comes with a heavy heart.

This is one of the beautiful Black Swans that graced Lake Orr’s shores, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Australia. Sadly, in late November 2023, Poppy, as she was affectionately known, was injured by a Bull Shark, which are prevalent in the lake. Locals rushed her to the local veterinary surgeon, but sadly she could not be saved.

So, in loving memory of Poppy, seen here with two of her four cygnets, the proceeds from the sale of prints of this artwork will be donated to a Gold Coast charity to help save the Black Swans under threat from many things.
Please help this noble cause and purchase your print today.

Kōkako

An exercise in watercolour wash, pen & ink and designer’s gouache during my studies at Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey University) School Of Design back in the early 1980s.

A New Zealand native bird. Often referred to as ‘The Lone Ranger Bird’ or the ‘New Zealand Crow’.

Māori myth refers to the Kōkako in several stories. In one notable story, a Kōkako gave Māui water as he fought the sun by filling its plump wattles with water and offering it to Māui to quench his thirst. Māui rewarded kōkako for its kindness by stretching its legs until they were lean, long and strong so that Kōkako could easily leap through the forest to find food.

The kōkako appears on the reverse side of the New Zealand $50 note.

Capturing the essence of a seascape in such a simple, child-like expression of line.

The seas are rough and the cloudy skies appear threatening.

There is a storm brewing….

‘Winged Victory’ on the lower levels of Victor Emanuele II Monument. By an unknown sculptor.

This is one of a collection of many statues I photographed in Roma (Rome, Italy) in 2015 which I have turned into sketches.

While some are cast in bronze and others carved in marble or granite, they all demonstrate incredible craftsmanship and a dedication to a cause or conflict.

Predating Christ in many cases, all seem to have a common theme of religion, mythology and/or powerful people, be they emperors, goddesses, angels, gods, soldiers, ecclesiastical figures, or rulers and monarchs.

Although the original images are powerful in themselves, I chose to isolate them, simplify and enhance them so they may be viewed as individual pieces of ancient history. 

They can stand alone, or be collected as part of an ongoing series.

‘Winged Victory’ on the upper levels of Victor Emanuele II Monument. By sculptor Nicola Cantalamessa Papotti.

This is one of a collection of many statues I photographed in Roma (Rome, Italy) in 2015 which I have turned into sketches.

While some are cast in bronze and others carved in marble or granite, they all demonstrate incredible craftsmanship and a dedication to a cause or conflict.

Predating Christ in many cases, all seem to have a common theme of religion, mythology and/or powerful people, be they emperors, goddesses, angels, gods, soldiers, ecclesiastical figures, or rulers and monarchs.

Although the original images are powerful in themselves, I chose to isolate them, simplify and enhance them so they may be viewed as individual pieces of ancient history. 

They can stand alone, or be collected as part of an ongoing series.

‘Winged Victory’ on the upper levels of Victor Emanuele II Monument. By Sculptor Adolfo Apolinni.

This is one of a collection of many statues I photographed in Roma (Rome, Italy) in 2015 which I have turned into sketches.

While some are cast in bronze and others carved in marble or granite, they all demonstrate incredible craftsmanship and a dedication to a cause or conflict.

Predating Christ in many cases, all seem to have a common theme of religion, mythology and/or powerful people, be they emperors, goddesses, angels, gods, soldiers, ecclesiastical figures, or rulers and monarchs.

Although the original images are powerful in themselves, I chose to isolate them, simplify and enhance them so they may be viewed as individual pieces of ancient history. 

They can stand alone, or be collected as part of an ongoing series.

‘Winged Victory’ on the upper levels of Victor Emanuele II Monument. By sculptor Nicola Cantalamessa Papotti.

This is one of a collection of many statues I photographed in Roma (Rome, Italy) in 2015 which I have turned into sketches.

While some are cast in bronze and others carved in marble or granite, they all demonstrate incredible craftsmanship and a dedication to a cause or conflict.

Predating Christ in many cases, all seem to have a common theme of religion, mythology and/or powerful people, be they emperors, goddesses, angels, gods, soldiers, ecclesiastical figures, or rulers and monarchs.

Although the original images are powerful in themselves, I chose to isolate them, simplify and enhance them so they may be viewed as individual pieces of ancient history. 

They can stand alone, or be collected as part of an ongoing series.

‘The Musician’ is more of a reflection than a self-portrait. ~ Or is it?!

My Jekyll and Hyde. The work explores the influence of red wine on the creative process, perhaps having gone too far on the grog.

As artists we often get asked “Where did the idea come from?”
For many, we answer with a humble “I don’t know, it just came to me.”

But thinking about it a little deeper I realised that many of my ideas are actually spawned in the last third of a bottle of red wine (or white, or rosé or whatever…).

This work was created at a ‘music, art and drinks night’ held at the wonderfully creative space ‘Karma Collab Hub’ in Miami on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

With no idea of what I was going to produce, I thought about doing a loose portrait which evoked the feeling in the room at the time.

Success I think.