“The valley where I call home is in the region affectionately known as ‘Big Sky Country’. Being an artist here is almost too much, like a sensory overload of beauty and natural wonder. Everyday, there is a moment where I must stop whatever I’m doing on my cattle farm and study how the light is playing in the environment. The sun maybe illuminating brilliant silver cloud edges at dawn, glistening through dappled gum trees, glowing golden through kicked up dust, beaming cool shards of rays through misty rain, or creating a spectrum kaleidoscope as it sets in the west.

This collection of paintings became an exercise which challenged my oil painting skills, depicting the authentic rural life which surrounds me looking directly into the sun. These images symbolise the deep connection and great reverence I hold for Australia’s unique and picturesque lands.

Along with the farm activities in the landscape, I have included some small intimate portraits which I imagined looking like jewels on the wall. Hence, the choice of a traditional gilt frame for those pieces. The works on paper are striking animal portraits on bold blocks of colour. I had wanted to experiment with neon/fluorescent paint and a couple of these images were the perfect vehicle!

When coming to the end of work for my exhibition I heard the tragic news that huge high voltage transmission lines (HVTL) are proposed to dissect our picturesque valley. The very special landscape here is what attracted us to this area. My endless inspiration comes from the pristine bushland and fertile farmland surrounding us. Coincidentally, the last image I had planned to paint is exactly where the HVTL will stand, resulting in the clearing of ecologically sensitive habitats of koala, quoll and vandalising the most productive land of this farm in Echo Hills, NSW. My response was to crudely graffiti over my beautiful painting to symbolise this irresponsible vandalism.”