This series of works reflect my time travel around Australia and my fascination with our ancient geological history, stripped of vegetation and exposed for all to see in our arid lands. A journey around Australia is a journey through time, from 3.45 billion year old stromatolites (fossilised colonies of cyanobacteria) through to fossilised sand dunes, sand ripples, and dinosaur footprints, a mere 100 million years old. All coloured and patterned by vivid iron oxides.  I have attempted to accurately depict some of the most intriguing landscapes I have come across in my time travels. I am more liberal with my depicting the process of weathering and the colours and patterns it leaves behind.

In places the weathering of sandstone rockfaces by water and osmosis has formed intricate three-dimensional patterns by mineral differentiation and erosion of softened rock – known as honeycomb, or more properly, tafoni.

In Purnululu 360 million year old conglomerate is eroding, liberating the ancient river pebbles to once again resume their journey downstream, carving intricate flowforms into the sandstone bed of Piccaninny Creek as they go (Purnululu Flowforms series).

In Darwin 115 million year old sediments deposited in a shallow sea are being eroded again, forming vividly coloured and intricately patterned rocks. Chemical leaching along fracture lines and around roots has bleached the rock pure white, with striking effects. A lot of time was spent exploring these sandstone foreshores, washing sand off the rocky substrate as the tide receded to reveal astounding abstract patterns. It is the most beautifully patterned sandstone I have encountered (Sandstone and Salts series).

At Mission Beach the golden sands are enriched by basalt and patterned by erosion rivulets and coils of beachworms’ refuse (Mission Beach Sand-worms series).