ABOUT

I acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians of the land I live and work on and their deep feelings of attachment and relationship to country. I pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Exploring a diverse mix of interests has always come naturally to me.

Based in Prospect, the suburb I grew up in, I now apply that diversity to my working life. As well as being a professional artist I also operate Kontroller by JP, a consulting business dedicated to supporting a wide range of clients as they navigate major projects.

I studied a Bachelor of Business (Management) when I left school and started working at the age of 18. Ten years later, in 2002 I was felt the need to pursue my creativity and enrolled at the Adelaide Central School of Art (ACSA).

After gaining my Associate Degree in Visual Art and leaving ACSA in 2008, I focussed on my preferred style and medium - tonal realist oil painting. Over the years I have explored different themes, including still life, landscape, portraiture, flowers and dogs.

Flowers in their natural environment have emerged as my favourite subject matter. I'm drawn to bright colours and love the challenge of translating photographic elements, both the macro details and the blurred backgrounds, to oil on canvas.

I love the inspiration that my garden gives me. I've lived in my home for nearly 25 years and in 2020 a purpose-built north facing studio with landscaping was completed. The garden is positioned between the living and kitchen space in my house and my studio. I love adding more flowering plants and am constantly photographing the flowers and for my next painting.

Education

2007 Associate Degree in Visual Art, Adelaide Central School of Art, Norwood

1997 Bachelor of Management, University of South Australia, Adelaide

Accolades

2022 Finalist, Kennedy Art Prize

Finalist, Omnia Art Prize

2021 Public Art Grant, City of Prospect

2017 Finalist, Emma Hack Art Prize

2013 Finalist, City of Whyalla Art Prize

2012 First Prize, Bald Clanger Portrait Prize, Grace Emily Hotel

First Prize, Adelaide Cathedral Art Show

2010 Emerging Artist Prize, SA Life/Loreto Spring Art

2008 Commission Award, Baulderstone Hornibrook/Helpmann Academy

Finalist, CIBO/Loreto Spring Art Emerging Artist Prize

2007 First Prize, Adelaide Cathedral Art Show

Grant, Helpmann Academy

Scholarship, Adelaide Central School of Art (ACSA)

2006 Commission Prize, Exeter Hotel/ACSA

Press

2023 Offerings from my Garden, Fleurieu Living Magazine, Spring 2023

2021 Transforming stobie poles from drab to fab, Your Prospect, Summer 2022

2010 In bloom, SA Life, July 2010

2008 An exploration of life during SALA Festival, Standard Messenger, 23 July 2008

Authentic Exhibition, Update Arts Magazine, Issue 60, June - August 2008

2007 Art Fair Opportunities, Update Arts Magazine, Issue 57, September - November 2007

Marketing Gurus, Eastern Courier Messenger, 15 August 2007

Creative Leanings, Adelaide Matters, 14 August 2007

Reverie, Artdate, Issue 80, April - May 2007

2006 West end a gallery, The Advertiser, 5 December 2006

Art meets West End, Update Arts Magazine, Issue 54, December 2006 - February 2007

Cheers for Art Prize, Adelaide City Messenger, 9 March 2006

Selected Exhibitions

2023 Offerings from my Garden, Gitanjali, Walkerville

Solar Art Prize, Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Adelaide

2022 Spring on the Strand, The Strand Gallery, Port Elliot

Loreto Spring Art, Loreto College, Marryatville

Kennedy Art Prize, Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Adelaide

Omnia Art Prize, St Kevin's College, Toorak

2021 The Girls are Back in Town, The Strand Gallery, Port Elliot

Open Studio Exhibition, SALA Solo Show, Prospect

Melbourne Street Open Air Gallery Art Trail, North Adelaide

2020 Limited Access, SALA Group Show, Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide

Blurry Botanicals, The Strand Gallery, Port Elliot

2019 Loreto Spring Art, Loreto College, Marryatville

Saatchi The Other Art Fair, Melbourne

2018 Loreto Spring Art, Loreto College, Marryatville

Bloom Group exhibition, Art Bar, Adelaide

2017 Adelaide Cathedral Art Show, St Peter's Cathedral, North Adelaide

Sit, Drop, Play Solo Show, WOTSO WorkSpace, Adelaide

Emma Hack Art Prize Exhibition, Burnside Village

2016 Small Works, Worth Gallery, Kent Town