In January, I visited Vietnam to explore the ancient cities of Hanoi and Hoi An and the evocative islands of HaLong Bay. HaLong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands.
A lot of people ask me about the inspiration for my work and I generally answer that it is the landscape around me, the beautiful beaches, National Parks, and hinterland of the Noosa region of Australia.
However, Noosa is not my only inspiration. When I travel, I immerse myself in the atmosphere of the places I visit and then express those reflections onto canvas. In recent times the mountains, rolling hillsides and glacial lakes of the South Island of New Zealand have been a great inspiration along with the desert regions of inland Australia.
The experience of cruising through the crystal waters of HaLong Bay was awe inspiring. Hundreds of towering limestone islands emerge from the waters of the bay evoking ancient times and long-forgotten memories. These structures are bold, evocative, and simply incredible to behold.
Once I arrived back in my studio, my HaLong Bay experience was etched in my consciousness and its colours and ambience found expression in my paintings. My HaLong Bay series is not a dramatic shift from my usual style, but there is a wonderful sense of beauty and peace in the paintings that are a true expression of my experience of the region.
...
