I live and create in the Blue Mountains, NSW, working primarily with acrylics — from thick-bodied paints to fluid inks. I love the speed at which they dry, allowing me to build my work in many layered stages. Whether I’m painting landscapes, figurative pieces, florals or abstracts, I work directly into the surface, using texture, transparency, and colour to shape the image as it evolves. Colour is my greatest passion. I splash it, push it, and watch the interactions unfold, letting the work tell me what it wants to be. My process is exploratory and intuitive: sometimes I start with an idea, but more often the work takes over, becoming something unexpected. My current body of work is spontaneous and unplanned — expressions of remembered and imagined ideas that develop freely on the substrate. I invite my audience to bring their own experiences to my paintings, finding connections that resonate personally. This shared space between artist and viewer, where memory and imagination meet, is one of the most exciting aspects of my practice. I hold a BA in Fine Art and Visual Culture from Curtin University (2016) and a Diploma of Teaching from Goulburn College of Advanced Education (1979), and also a Certificate 11 in Design - Ceramics (2020). My work has been exhibited widely, including as a finalist in the Bluethumb Art Prize and the Blacktown City Art Prize, and as winner of the Penrith Regional Show. I have been trading as Iggiruss Designs since 2014. Under this label I create a variety of ceramic works and textile jewellery. This includes my very popular ceramic flowers, vases, pots and knick knacks available in my Etsy Store and in local shops and galleries. My textile jewellery utilises recycled silk and vintage Kimono fabric and is available through Hare St Gallery in Glenbrook. You can also find it on my website.