A spray of colour lightly diffused with sequins, foil, beads and semi-precious stones give life to Angie's whimsical portraiture that has established her position over the years as one of Tropical North Queensland's leading artists.

Paradise found...Described as eclectic tapestries interwoven with humour and joy, an Angie painting is priceless in the way it conjures happiness and joy, such a sought commodity in today's fast-paced and often stressful society. For many, an Angie painting is their sanctuary.

This distinctive mixed-media style has earned her much acclaim and an international following.

Background

Angie's childhood years were happy ones in a family home where fairytales, flowers and much celebration were common place. This joyful start to her life has no doubt provided the canvas for her wonderfully imaginative and carefree style and bright, happy-go-lucky personality.

After finishing secondary school in Victoria, Angie's love of art and all things beautiful became the focus for her adult years. She studied visual arts at Gordon Technical College, James Cook University, Deakin University and the Far North Queensland Institute of TAFE where her skills evolved from pencil to brush.

It was while studying the arts that her favourite Masters Modigliani and Van Gough found frame in her painting today. She credits them for their influence and genius.

Angie has called Cairns home for the past 15 years. From this tropical heartland that she loves, Angie derives much inspiration from nature that surrounds. Be it reef or rainforest - Cairns is a painter's paradise for its bounty of colour and awe - inspiring beauty.

Her Style

Decorative mixed-media collage featuring a profusion of colour with: sequins, foils, threads, beads and semi-precious stones to form the basis of both her still life and portraiture art.

Like all painters, Angie's style has evolved gradually over the years.

It was her daughter, Emily who provided the greatest motive for Angie to pick up the brush and practice all the techniques she had studied and learnt.

"When Emily was very small I would quite often paint her as this angelic creature with wings. She loved these."

"With the burden of paying for Emily's ballet tuition and many dance costumes, I started to paint for pocket money to cope with escalating expenses. With the encouragement of my family and friends, I started to exhibit in Cairns' prestigious Reef Gallery. I found I had a market and my life as a painter found its own wings. That was eight years ago."

"To me the future looks bright, with a view to finding homes for my paintings in more galleries around the world, I now focus most of my energies strengthening my style for a cleaner edge."

Inspiration

In the midst of her well preserved childhood memories, Angie makes special mention of her catholic up bringing and school days spent sitting in church admiring the spectacular beauty of stained glass windows. Today, when you look at an Angie painting the stained glass effect is immediately evident an Angie trade mark so effectively captured.

She also credits her Japanese aunt, who patiently taught her the art of origami and fostered a love of the orient...its colour, traditions and costumes...another influence that is never more evident in her popular works Asian Girl with Heron and Chinese Opera.

Artworks

Angie's work is prolific and is displayed in exhibitions throughout Australia and in homes and offices throughout the world.

Her originals and limited edition hand finished prints display angels and animals, flowers and fruit that are always filled with life, humour and happiness.

Galleries

•   Reef Gallery, Cairns

•   Helen Wiltshire Gallery, Palm Cove

•   Homewares on Main Beach, Gold Coast

•   Candlenut Gallery, Port Douglas