Finalist, Kennedy Art Prize, 2018.

This work is a representation of self as teacher, artist and human. It speaks of exhaustion and determination in equal parts. The ruler and brushes are taken straight from my teaching studio – a part of my job, but also a part of me. More importantly, this works speaks of the women who have led the way before me – artists such as Nora Heysen – who were driven, independent, strong and subtle in equal measures. Heysen was an incredible advocate of the arts, and her work is a testament to the strong women in her life, as well as her willingness to stay creative in the face of adversity, through war, and at a time of significant hardship. Her critical but loving introspection and her celebration of others, continues to be a beacon in my own arts practice. I owe much to her powerful legacy.