So, there has been a lot going on - moved my base to Adelaide, started work on a new solo exhibition of threatened plant species, studying surface pattern design, am loving the Chihuly glass installations at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and what I learned about the power of focus.

Focus

When you focus your attention everything shifts.

I have always been a visitor to Botanic Gardens. When I decided to paint Australian natives my visits changed dramatically.

Now I went with urgency. I remember going to see if the noble caper was in flower - a small window of opportunity in the year when the caper moths come to feed on this stunning delicate flower. I was excited, energised, urgent.

What changed?

Focus

I decided to focus my attention, give my energy and follow through on my study of Australian plants. I was astounded at how different I felt. Nothing had changed and everything had changed.

Make a decision to focus on what you love, give it your energy and attention and feel the change.

Rare Adelaide - an exhibition of paintings and patterns of rare and threatened plant species to highlight the beauty and vulnerabilities of our beautiful native plants.

Australian plants are stunning. They calm us, shield us, support us. They connect us with the land on which we live. What is all around us can often go unseen. The purpose of this exhibition is to inspire through vibrant macro large scale work that invites the viewer to engage with the beauty of our native plants particularly those that are in danger of extinction. Now you see it …

I had hoped for twelve months to work on this exhibition but the opportunity with the Hughes Gallery has come up in for February 14 - so you know, in for a penny … it’s on. That may mean a broadening of the definition of rare for this exhibition but I am loving searching out these plants and thinking this theme will grow for me.

I’ve had help from Dr Nikola Streiber at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens giving me access to the threatened species greenhouses and showing me through the threatened plants Seed Orchard (that you can visit anytime). Josh Laynes of the State Flora Specialists showed me some beauties as did Dr Mark Ellis from Conservation and Land Management for the City of Burnside.

So many people are so passionate about saving these plants. Join us at

Hughes Gallery Fullarton Park on February 15 for afternoon tea at 3pm (diarise)

Surface pattern design - what’s that? All those patterns on shirts curtains, bags, wallpaper were all made by a surface pattern designer. It involves learning the skills of computer design and creating a portfolio of work. It is a big undertaking. I’m loving it. I will match some patterns and designs with the paintings for Rare Adelaide and have both the paintings and the patterns in the exhibition.

Here is a sample of my painting of Solanis pannosa that I made into a pattern that will be on fabric and product at the exhibition - watch 27 seconds.

Have you been to see the Chihuly glass exhibition yet at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens? Do it. It is beautiful. 27 Sep - 29 April 2025 don’t put it off too long or the time will whip past.

Keep on creating.

Focus Changes Everything