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Winning the Award for “Arts and Culture Influencer” at the National 2926 Inspire Awards gave me the perfect opportunity to speak about something I feel incredibly strongly about:
the value of art.

In my acceptance speech, I raised my concerns about how creative subjects are de-valued within Queensland’s education system, particularly when perceptions around ATAR scaling discourage young people from choosing them. What message are we sending when students feel they have to put creativity aside to protect their academic future? And what happens when those choices ripple through our communities?

I’m an advocate for art and creativity. For their place in education, in our communities and in everyday life. For the connection they create, the expression they allow and the support they can offer our emotional wellbeing.

And I challenge anyone who says art isn’t important.

Look around you. The clothes you’re wearing. The car you drive. The chair you’re sitting on. The house you live in. Someone imagined, designed and created those things. Creativity is woven into our lives so completely that we often forget to recognise it.

Artists and creative people bring colour, character and nuance to our world. They help us tell our stories, question ideas and see things through someone else’s eyes.

So yes, I call bullshit on the idea that art isn’t important.

Art is absolutely essential. And I’ll keep speaking up for it.

Winning the Award for “Arts and Culture Influencer” at the National 2926 Inspire Awards gave me the perfect opportunity to speak about something I feel incredibly strongly about:
the value of art.

In my acceptance speech, I raised my concerns about how creative subjects are de-valued within Queensland’s education system, particularly when perceptions around ATAR scaling discourage young people from choosing them. What message are we sending when students feel they have to put creativity aside to protect their academic future? And what happens when those choices ripple through our communities?

I’m an advocate for art and creativity. For their place in education, in our communities and in everyday life. For the connection they create, the expression they allow and the support they can offer our emotional wellbeing.

And I challenge anyone who says art isn’t important.

Look around you. The clothes you’re wearing. The car you drive. The chair you’re sitting on. The house you live in. Someone imagined, designed and created those things. Creativity is woven into our lives so completely that we often forget to recognise it.

Artists and creative people bring colour, character and nuance to our world. They help us tell our stories, question ideas and see things through someone else’s eyes.

So yes, I call bullshit on the idea that art isn’t important.

Art is absolutely essential. And I’ll keep speaking up for it.

Day 27 of Inktober, and today’s word was DUMB. And I’m not going to lie… I really struggled with this one.

It’s a word I don’t particularly like. It feels negative, and it sent absolutely no inspiration my way. Dumbo? Dumb and Dumber? Neither was doing it for me. Whoever chose today’s prompt, I have questions!

So I started playing with word association. Dumb, silly, foolish… which led me to court jesters, English tradition and, eventually, Shakespeare.

And that’s how I landed on Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He’s not actually a court jester; he belongs to the fairy world. But mischief, tricks and a bit of tomfoolery? That I could work with.

Being here in England, it felt like a fitting little creative detour. So here’s my interpretation of Puck, drawn in pen and ink, with ink watercolours for a dark blue-black moonlit sky and some forest greenery.

Am I loving it? Honestly, no. Some days the idea takes a while to arrive, and even when it does, the drawing doesn’t quite turn out how you’d hoped. But I’ve shown up, had a go and kept my Inktober going. Today, that’ll do.

I’d love to see where this prompt took you. Did the inspiration come easily, or were you scratching your head too?

And if you’d like the chance to win a print of one of my Inktober drawings, comment Inktober Win to go into the draw at the end of the month.

Happy creating—even on the days when the prompt has you muttering at your sketchbook!

Day 27 of Inktober, and today’s word was DUMB. And I’m not going to lie… I really struggled with this one.

It’s a word I don’t particularly like. It feels negative, and it sent absolutely no inspiration my way. Dumbo? Dumb and Dumber? Neither was doing it for me. Whoever chose today’s prompt, I have questions!

So I started playing with word association. Dumb, silly, foolish… which led me to court jesters, English tradition and, eventually, Shakespeare.

And that’s how I landed on Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He’s not actually a court jester; he belongs to the fairy world. But mischief, tricks and a bit of tomfoolery? That I could work with.

Being here in England, it felt like a fitting little creative detour. So here’s my interpretation of Puck, drawn in pen and ink, with ink watercolours for a dark blue-black moonlit sky and some forest greenery.

Am I loving it? Honestly, no. Some days the idea takes a while to arrive, and even when it does, the drawing doesn’t quite turn out how you’d hoped. But I’ve shown up, had a go and kept my Inktober going. Today, that’ll do.

I’d love to see where this prompt took you. Did the inspiration come easily, or were you scratching your head too?

And if you’d like the chance to win a print of one of my Inktober drawings, comment Inktober Win to go into the draw at the end of the month.

Happy creating—even on the days when the prompt has you muttering at your sketchbook!

Day 27 Inktober
“dumb”

Day 27 Inktober
“dumb”

Day 26 Inktober
“ZIP”

Day 26 Inktober
“ZIP”

Day 26 of Inktober, and today’s word is ZIP.

Clothing wasn’t really inspiring me. My brain briefly wandered towards The Silence of the Lambs and a skin suit held together with zips… before I remembered that macabre really isn’t my thing!

Instead, inspiration came from outside the window. I’m at my dad’s house in the middle of Exmoor, surrounded by pheasants, robins, farmyard chooks and kestrels. It’s like staying in an aviary.

All these birds got me thinking about magpie swooping season back in Australia. If you’ve ever been targeted while riding your bike, you’ll understand why some cyclists turn their helmets into little forests of zip ties. Quite the fashion statement.

And there it was. ZIP TIES.

But what if we swapped things around?

So today’s drawing is a magpie wearing a bike helmet covered in zip ties, with a winged human swooping overhead. “WARNING: HUMANS SWOOPING.”

A little role reversal, a bit of silliness, and a very Australian take on today’s prompt. I wonder how the magpies would like it?

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the draw to win one of my prints at the end of the month.

Day 26 of Inktober, and today’s word is ZIP.

Clothing wasn’t really inspiring me. My brain briefly wandered towards The Silence of the Lambs and a skin suit held together with zips… before I remembered that macabre really isn’t my thing!

Instead, inspiration came from outside the window. I’m at my dad’s house in the middle of Exmoor, surrounded by pheasants, robins, farmyard chooks and kestrels. It’s like staying in an aviary.

All these birds got me thinking about magpie swooping season back in Australia. If you’ve ever been targeted while riding your bike, you’ll understand why some cyclists turn their helmets into little forests of zip ties. Quite the fashion statement.

And there it was. ZIP TIES.

But what if we swapped things around?

So today’s drawing is a magpie wearing a bike helmet covered in zip ties, with a winged human swooping overhead. “WARNING: HUMANS SWOOPING.”

A little role reversal, a bit of silliness, and a very Australian take on today’s prompt. I wonder how the magpies would like it?

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the draw to win one of my prints at the end of the month.

Sometimes the story behind an artwork is as meaningful as the drawing itself. Inspiration can come from something you’ve seen, something you feel, or a beautiful memory that comes back when you least expect it.

Today’s Inktober word was FRACTURE, and seeing my stepmum’s lovely china reminded me of playing in a cowshed with my twin sister. We had old, chipped and cracked tea sets that we filled with mud, flowers and plants from the hedgerows, serving up our creations in our little pretend café.

That memory feels particularly precious while I’m staying with Dad, who has now been diagnosed with dementia. We’ve been spending time revisiting familiar stories, finding places in his memories where he feels comfortable, where we can laugh together and enjoy walking hand in hand through the same story.

Those conversations have been a huge inspiration. A cracked teacup, some flowers and a few everyday biros have become a drawing about childhood, connection and time with my dad.

I’d love to hear the stories behind your drawings too. And if you’d like to win a print of one of my original drawings, comment “Inktober win” below.

Sometimes the story behind an artwork is as meaningful as the drawing itself. Inspiration can come from something you’ve seen, something you feel, or a beautiful memory that comes back when you least expect it.

Today’s Inktober word was FRACTURE, and seeing my stepmum’s lovely china reminded me of playing in a cowshed with my twin sister. We had old, chipped and cracked tea sets that we filled with mud, flowers and plants from the hedgerows, serving up our creations in our little pretend café.

That memory feels particularly precious while I’m staying with Dad, who has now been diagnosed with dementia. We’ve been spending time revisiting familiar stories, finding places in his memories where he feels comfortable, where we can laugh together and enjoy walking hand in hand through the same story.

Those conversations have been a huge inspiration. A cracked teacup, some flowers and a few everyday biros have become a drawing about childhood, connection and time with my dad.

I’d love to hear the stories behind your drawings too. And if you’d like to win a print of one of my original drawings, comment “Inktober win” below.

Day 25 of Inktober and another little whisper for tonight’s live. I’m at Dad’s, and he and my stepmum have already gone to bed!

Today’s word is FRACTURE. Now, I could have drawn the arm I broke falling out of my bedroom window at three, trying to fly. Or the one I fractured doing gymnastics. But being here brought back a different childhood memory.

My twin sister and I used to play camps in a cowshed, with old tea sets full of chips, cracks and fractures. We’d fill them with mud, flowers and whatever we found in the hedgerows, then “sell” our creations in our little café.

Seeing my stepmum’s beautiful china brought it all back, and there was my inspiration.

A blue biro for the forget-me-nots, a black biro, and a red one Harry lent me for the marigolds. Simple materials, a lovely memory and a cute little drawing I’m really happy with.

Send me your pictures—I’m dying to see what you’re creating for Inktober. And if you’d like to go into the draw to win a print of one of my original drawings, comment “Inktober win” below.

Day 25 of Inktober and another little whisper for tonight’s live. I’m at Dad’s, and he and my stepmum have already gone to bed!

Today’s word is FRACTURE. Now, I could have drawn the arm I broke falling out of my bedroom window at three, trying to fly. Or the one I fractured doing gymnastics. But being here brought back a different childhood memory.

My twin sister and I used to play camps in a cowshed, with old tea sets full of chips, cracks and fractures. We’d fill them with mud, flowers and whatever we found in the hedgerows, then “sell” our creations in our little café.

Seeing my stepmum’s beautiful china brought it all back, and there was my inspiration.

A blue biro for the forget-me-nots, a black biro, and a red one Harry lent me for the marigolds. Simple materials, a lovely memory and a cute little drawing I’m really happy with.

Send me your pictures—I’m dying to see what you’re creating for Inktober. And if you’d like to go into the draw to win a print of one of my original drawings, comment “Inktober win” below.

A little “fan-girling” for Mum’s 80th birthday!

I brought some basic art materials and lovely silk fans over from Australia for a little family workshop. The brief? My sisters and I each decorated a fan inspired by Mum, and Mum created hers inspired by us four daughters. No pressure, Mum!

We spent a lovely couple of hours sharing stories, laughing, joking and creating together. For me, that’s what these moments are all about. A few simple materials, a bit of imagination and time together making memories.

And the fans?
They actually turned out fab and it was so fun :)

A little “fan-girling” for Mum’s 80th birthday!

I brought some basic art materials and lovely silk fans over from Australia for a little family workshop. The brief? My sisters and I each decorated a fan inspired by Mum, and Mum created hers inspired by us four daughters. No pressure, Mum!

We spent a lovely couple of hours sharing stories, laughing, joking and creating together. For me, that’s what these moments are all about. A few simple materials, a bit of imagination and time together making memories.

And the fans?
They actually turned out fab and it was so fun :)

Day 24 of Inktober and today’s word is BAKE. My mind went straight to Bake Off, cakes and cookies… but after recently visiting the Jim Henson exhibition at GOMA in Brisbane, it had to be Cookie Monster!

And Cookie Monster needs to be blue. So out came the blue ink pen… which promptly spilled all over the table at my nephew’s house. Slight change of plan!

Once we’d cleaned up the mess, I reached for coloured pencils, adding blue shading and an ink outline. A little improvisation, and I absolutely love him. Sometimes the materials make the decisions for you!

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the draw to win a print of one of my Inktober artworks at the end of the month.

Day 24 of Inktober and today’s word is BAKE. My mind went straight to Bake Off, cakes and cookies… but after recently visiting the Jim Henson exhibition at GOMA in Brisbane, it had to be Cookie Monster!

And Cookie Monster needs to be blue. So out came the blue ink pen… which promptly spilled all over the table at my nephew’s house. Slight change of plan!

Once we’d cleaned up the mess, I reached for coloured pencils, adding blue shading and an ink outline. A little improvisation, and I absolutely love him. Sometimes the materials make the decisions for you!

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the draw to win a print of one of my Inktober artworks at the end of the month.

Day 24 Inktober
Bake

Day 24 Inktober
Bake

Watch this dapper chap come to life. Day 23 of Inktober, and Mr Toad is looking rather pleased with himself!

Today, sitting down with my pens was exactly what I needed. Between travelling, family catch-ups and trying to fit everyone in, I’d stretched myself a bit thin.

So I gave myself permission to sit quietly and get lost in the drawing. Oversized shoes, an extravagant hat, goggles and a curved pipe… he got more eccentric with every line, and I felt a little calmer.

Sometimes making time to create gives you the breathing space you didn’t realise you needed. Today it certainly did for me.

Comment “Inktober win” to enter the raffle to win a print of one of my original drawings at the end of the month.

Watch this dapper chap come to life. Day 23 of Inktober, and Mr Toad is looking rather pleased with himself!

Today, sitting down with my pens was exactly what I needed. Between travelling, family catch-ups and trying to fit everyone in, I’d stretched myself a bit thin.

So I gave myself permission to sit quietly and get lost in the drawing. Oversized shoes, an extravagant hat, goggles and a curved pipe… he got more eccentric with every line, and I felt a little calmer.

Sometimes making time to create gives you the breathing space you didn’t realise you needed. Today it certainly did for me.

Comment “Inktober win” to enter the raffle to win a print of one of my original drawings at the end of the month.

Day 23 of Inktober: Dapper.

You know what? I really needed Inktober today. And for once, I’m not squeezing it in just before midnight!

All the late nights, driving and catching up with family have caught up with me. My social battery was flat, and I had a bit of a wobble earlier, realising I’m running out of time to see everyone.

But I can only do what I can do. This trip was about Mum’s 80th, seeing Dad and spending time with my son and daughter. Everything else has to be a bonus, even when that means disappointing people.

So today, while my nephew and his wife were working, I sat quietly in their house and drew this rather dapper Mr Toad. I spent longer on him than I usually would, simply because I needed that time.

And that’s why I talk so much about creativity and wellbeing. Today, drawing helped me collect my thoughts, settle my anxiety and breathe a little easier.

Tomorrow I get to watch Harry play football, which will fill my cup a bit more.

How’s your Inktober going? Comment “Inktober win” if you’d like to go into the draw to win a print of one of my original drawings at the end of the month.

Day 23 of Inktober: Dapper.

You know what? I really needed Inktober today. And for once, I’m not squeezing it in just before midnight!

All the late nights, driving and catching up with family have caught up with me. My social battery was flat, and I had a bit of a wobble earlier, realising I’m running out of time to see everyone.

But I can only do what I can do. This trip was about Mum’s 80th, seeing Dad and spending time with my son and daughter. Everything else has to be a bonus, even when that means disappointing people.

So today, while my nephew and his wife were working, I sat quietly in their house and drew this rather dapper Mr Toad. I spent longer on him than I usually would, simply because I needed that time.

And that’s why I talk so much about creativity and wellbeing. Today, drawing helped me collect my thoughts, settle my anxiety and breathe a little easier.

Tomorrow I get to watch Harry play football, which will fill my cup a bit more.

How’s your Inktober going? Comment “Inktober win” if you’d like to go into the draw to win a print of one of my original drawings at the end of the month.

Day 22 of Inktober: Beacon.

It’s half past ten, I’ve been going since 6 a.m., and it’s another day, another bed! This holiday might look glamorous, but there’s a fair bit of travelling, packing and juggling behind the scenes. Still showing up for Inktober though, and I’m pretty proud of that.

Today I met one of my followers, Emily, for a gorgeous day at Tate Modern exploring the Frida Kahlo exhibition. She even gifted me a pencil and sketchbook so we could create together. How lovely is that?

Afterwards, we headed to the members’ lounge, overlooking London, and spent time drawing, chatting, connecting and sharing. An absolute joy.

Emily drew St Paul’s across the river, a beacon of hope whose survival during the Blitz became a symbol of resilience. My mind went straight home to Bodmin in Cornwall.

Bodmin Beacon’s granite obelisk stands around 44 metres tall and was built in 1857 as a memorial to Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert. Such a familiar landmark from home, finding its way into my sketchbook in London.

I started with Emily’s coloured pencils, then tonight added texture, fine lines and details with ink. A little different for Inktober, but there’s ink involved, so I’m calling it perfectly valid!

Give yourself some grace. Make the challenge work for you. We don’t have to be purists; we just have to enjoy creating.

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the end-of-month draw to win a print of one of my original artworks.

Day 22 of Inktober: Beacon.

It’s half past ten, I’ve been going since 6 a.m., and it’s another day, another bed! This holiday might look glamorous, but there’s a fair bit of travelling, packing and juggling behind the scenes. Still showing up for Inktober though, and I’m pretty proud of that.

Today I met one of my followers, Emily, for a gorgeous day at Tate Modern exploring the Frida Kahlo exhibition. She even gifted me a pencil and sketchbook so we could create together. How lovely is that?

Afterwards, we headed to the members’ lounge, overlooking London, and spent time drawing, chatting, connecting and sharing. An absolute joy.

Emily drew St Paul’s across the river, a beacon of hope whose survival during the Blitz became a symbol of resilience. My mind went straight home to Bodmin in Cornwall.

Bodmin Beacon’s granite obelisk stands around 44 metres tall and was built in 1857 as a memorial to Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert. Such a familiar landmark from home, finding its way into my sketchbook in London.

I started with Emily’s coloured pencils, then tonight added texture, fine lines and details with ink. A little different for Inktober, but there’s ink involved, so I’m calling it perfectly valid!

Give yourself some grace. Make the challenge work for you. We don’t have to be purists; we just have to enjoy creating.

Comment “Inktober win” to go into the end-of-month draw to win a print of one of my original artworks.

Day 22 of Inktober: Beacon.

(Poor WiFi reception soz)

A very quiet chat tonight because I’m tucked up in another bed, this time at my nephew’s house in Reading! It’s half past ten, I’ve been going since 6 a.m., but I’m squeezing in the finishing touches to today’s drawing.

I started this one at Tate Modern with Emily, a follower who has become a lovely real-life creative connection. We spent the day exploring the Frida Kahlo exhibition, and she thoughtfully gifted me a pencil and sketchbook so we could do some creating together.

Afterwards, we headed up to the members’ lounge, where we sat overlooking London, drawing, chatting and sharing stories. Such a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon.

Talking about today’s prompt, Emily chose St Paul’s Cathedral across the river as her beacon of hope. My thoughts went straight to my hometown in Cornwall and Bodmin Beacon, that familiar granite landmark standing above the town.

I borrowed Emily’s coloured pencils to get mine started, and now I’m top and tailing the day with a little ink work, adding texture, fine lines and those final details before bed.

Pencils in London, ink in Reading. It all counts! Give yourself permission to make Inktober fit around your life and enjoy the time you have to create.

Comment “Inktober win” to enter the end-of-month draw to win a print of one of my original artworks.

Day 22 of Inktober: Beacon.

(Poor WiFi reception soz)

A very quiet chat tonight because I’m tucked up in another bed, this time at my nephew’s house in Reading! It’s half past ten, I’ve been going since 6 a.m., but I’m squeezing in the finishing touches to today’s drawing.

I started this one at Tate Modern with Emily, a follower who has become a lovely real-life creative connection. We spent the day exploring the Frida Kahlo exhibition, and she thoughtfully gifted me a pencil and sketchbook so we could do some creating together.

Afterwards, we headed up to the members’ lounge, where we sat overlooking London, drawing, chatting and sharing stories. Such a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon.

Talking about today’s prompt, Emily chose St Paul’s Cathedral across the river as her beacon of hope. My thoughts went straight to my hometown in Cornwall and Bodmin Beacon, that familiar granite landmark standing above the town.

I borrowed Emily’s coloured pencils to get mine started, and now I’m top and tailing the day with a little ink work, adding texture, fine lines and those final details before bed.

Pencils in London, ink in Reading. It all counts! Give yourself permission to make Inktober fit around your life and enjoy the time you have to create.

Comment “Inktober win” to enter the end-of-month draw to win a print of one of my original artworks.

Day trip London adventure coming ….

On the train from Reading to London for a little creative, cultural day trip, and today I’m meeting one of “my followers”.
Honestly, it’s blowing my mind!

In amongst family time and recording podcasts, someone 10,000 miles from home (OZ) has reached out and said, “Fancy going to an art gallery together?”

I’m used to connecting with our lovely creative community in Brisbane, but taking those connections across the world feels pretty special.

Emily’s dropped her kids at school and is heading in from south London. I’m coming from the west, and we’re meeting at Tate Modern for a day of art and a good chat.

It’s a lovely reminder that the world can feel surprisingly small, and that showing up and sharing what you love can make a positive difference to someone else’s life. You never quite know where it might lead.

Super excited. Follow along for a little creative connection!

Day trip London adventure coming ….

On the train from Reading to London for a little creative, cultural day trip, and today I’m meeting one of “my followers”.
Honestly, it’s blowing my mind!

In amongst family time and recording podcasts, someone 10,000 miles from home (OZ) has reached out and said, “Fancy going to an art gallery together?”

I’m used to connecting with our lovely creative community in Brisbane, but taking those connections across the world feels pretty special.

Emily’s dropped her kids at school and is heading in from south London. I’m coming from the west, and we’re meeting at Tate Modern for a day of art and a good chat.

It’s a lovely reminder that the world can feel surprisingly small, and that showing up and sharing what you love can make a positive difference to someone else’s life. You never quite know where it might lead.

Super excited. Follow along for a little creative connection!

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