Welcome

to

Joyful Revenge

I paint not to escape the world around me, but to reimagine it. Above all, it reminds me whatever is happening, I don't have to let difficult stuff take my ability to appreciate the good, good people, the beauty of nature and the pure joy I feel at creating and sharing those creations with those who share my desire to push through the noise and nonsense. I invite you to share this world and sentiment.

I hope my art gives you moments of peace and joy that are just yours. You will see things that perhaps only you will see. You might feel things only you will feel. Above all I hope it helps you find the joy to push back against whatever is taking your joy...even for a moment, but hopefully forever.

Nature of Nature

My 1st solo show

23rd-27th July 2025

@

Red Gallery, 157 St George's Rd, North Fitzroy, Victoria

Works will be for sale

Won't lie...I'm a touch nervous. Mostly because most of this work & so the show, was created purely for my own amusement & never intended to leave my lounge room, let alone be displayed in public. But I like a personal challenge & this is a biggie!

I'm constantly told photos don't do the works justice (I'm no professional photographer) My work is full of detail, & yes they do take a lot of time & concentration...mostly at the expense of doing the dishes. The details I love most within nature are not always the big and dazzling, but the small, barely noticeable, the things that, until you really look, you might just miss. Bark patterns, vines, scrubby shrubs, the veins in leafs even the twigs & branches that fall, they all contribute to both the beauty and function of our natural world. This is what I love to represent in my work. I hope you enjoy it too either in person, via this site or on Instagram. 

 

 

 

 

Reality leaves a lot to the imagination

-John Lennon

Art Work & more

Coming soon - lots of stuff to ensure you can enjoy your Joyful Revenge everyday

About Me

Joyful Revenge is more than a new adventure for me, it's now becoming a life mantra. My thanks goes to my favourite podcaster, Justin Mc Elroy, who on his medical history podcast Sawbones that he does with his amazing wife Dr Sydnee, introduced me to the idea that "joy is the greatest revenge" whilst advising people in the US on how to react during...well we all know what's been happening in medicine in the US. You know when you hear something you just can't unhear? Something that speaks to you right down inside where you live? It was simple and not his invention, but he said it and I heard it at just the right time in my life & it connected to how & why I create personally AND I knew that the notion would speak to others. One of my brother's was concerned it would make me sound aggressive or angry. Aggressive? Nope. Angry? Yeah I'm a little angry at the state of the world, what is happening to our environment, our indigenous cultures, people & countries whose rights seem to be expendable and of course our wildlife. But honestly, it seems to have become more easy to just give in, accept what is happening around us because  honestly...if you worried about everything you might never get out of bed right? I have rarely given in on a challenging situation, and via my more than 30 years of volunteering, working within NFPs in Australia and internationally I have done what I could to make positive changes in the world around me.  Now I want to try and create change via mine and eventually other's artistic endeavours that can give a bit of peace, positivity and perspective, especially when it's becoming obvious that people are feeling that their ability to experience joy is becoming limited given modern pressures.

I want to thank those closest to me, a good number of whom didn't realise that I drew & painted, for their love, support & encouragement. My beautiful mum always wanted me to pursue my art, and sadly hasn't seen me take this step, but her influence & courage is my constant inspiration to no longer create quietly.