About me
I’ve always found solace in making art, creativity has been my way of switching off a busy mind. It still is today. If I go a few days without creating, I don’t quite feel like myself. Trouble & Strife scratches my creative itch and I am fortunate enough that people enjoy my work as much as I love creating it.
Trouble & Strife began when I was pregnant with my first son. At the time, I was working full-time and regularly exhibiting conceptual and abstract works. I loved it, but the pace was hard to maintain alongside work and motherhood. I decided to step back from exhibitions but knew I needed to keep creating. So, I started making drawings of things I loved, and Trouble & Strife was born.
My inspiration
Much of my inspiration comes from nature. I love learning about animals, plants, fungi, and the ecosystems around us. Right now, I’m fascinated by fungi, and this often appears in my drawings, spore prints, photography, and abstract works. I hope my work helps people feel a little of the connection I find when I’m out in nature with my family or in my studio creating.
Topographic illustration
When people ask about my drawing style, I usually describe it as “organised doodling.” As I’ve refined my approach, “topographic illustration” feels more accurate detailed, layered, and meditative. Using drawing pens, inks, coloured pencils, and watercolour, I build each image section by section. It’s a process I’ve followed since childhood, one that feels as therapeutic as it is creative.
Reviving once loved ceramics
In addition to my illustrative work I also work with ceramics. Many of the once loved plates, vases, and teapots I find in local op shops. I repair and handpaint them in many thin layers to transform what many consider to be trash into a treasured item once more. Stylistically they do look quite different from my drawings. This is primarily due to working in a different media, however the inspiration is the same. From native birds and plants to pop culture icons like David Bowie, reviving these discarded items and turning them into one-of-a-kind artworks is deeply rewarding.
