I was overwhelmed by the rainforests majesty, luxuriance and vibrancy when I first visited this region back in 1974. Life was on display in all its glory. Trees took on a myriad of forms, propping themselves up with wide butresses, or even wrapping themselves around other trees and strangling them to death. Leaves came in all shapes and sizes. forming vaulted ceilings of multi-hued greens, decorated by splays of feathery palms.

Ferns ran along the ground, clambered up the trunks of trees patterned with moss and lichens, and sprouted from their branches high above my head, interspersed with clumps of orchids, Vines spiralled up tree trunks, festooning branches, twisting and twirling through empty space – reminders of an ancient host long since decomposed to earth
From that first encounter I was hooked. My goal was to move up here and live within the rainforest that had captivated me. I first lived near the rainforests at the head of the Terania Creek valley, and became well acquainted with them. Two years later I was arrested trying to stop a bulldozer pushing a road into its heart. There have been many battles since.
I used my rainforest drawings as part of our campaigns to promote and protect rainforests in Australia and around the world.

I used life drawing as a means of transitioning back into artwork and developing my skills. Most of these works were done in 2001 and 2002, though works are still done on an occasional basis.

Life Drawings: These life drawings (pastel on paper, 55x75cm) are explorations of the female form.

Studies: These small works (pastel on paper, 55x37cm) are studies undertaken during life drawing sessions.

Dancers: This exploratory series (2002, pastel on paper, 75x55cm) is based on combining a variety of poses during the one sitting into a single image.

Forms: These exploratory works (pastel on paper, 75x55cm) are based on combining a variety of poses during the one sitting into a single image.

Composititae: This whimsical series (2001, pastel on paper, 55x75cm) is based on integrating the human body (mainly tits) and flowers.