“Kelly, you are full of surprises!” This is a recurring statement I hear, yet I was surprised when painting made a grand entrance into my life during 2021, simultaneously ushering in a sense of wonder & belonging. I was looking for a creative outlet & found much more… the beauty of negative space, light and shadow as well as a deeper appreciation for the surrounding environment. 

A passion for gardening & bringing that beauty inside is my inspiration, I see possibilities to paint everywhere. Flora is sourced from my extensive ornamental garden & native Australian wildlife corridor to create expressionistic still life, botanical & avian inspired compositions. Reaching deeply into my imagination, driven by intuition rather than a methodical process activates my creativity.

Majestic Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos, Kookaburras, King Parrots & other avian friends charm & inspire me with raucous visits near my studio on Wiradjuri Country. Endearing calls echo across the valley alerting me to their presence. As an avid gardener I have planted hundreds of locally sourced trees & plants to increase habitat for bird life. The amount & frequency of visiting avian wildlife has increased as the trees grow, providing a mutually beneficial relationship between the artist (me) & my avian sitters!

Recently, I have discovered eucalyptus charcoal sourced from a family fire pit which is a gritty robust medium. Combining this charcoal with lush acrylic, watercolour & gouache inspires me to create unique pieces. The technique ’Alla Prima’ brings depth & visual interest into my artwork while giving me the freedom to gesticulate with paint using my hands, brushes & palette knives. I am often covered in paint!

Currently, I am excited about some collaborative work on hand- crafted, recycled paper. Sneak peeks can be found on my WIP page (work in progress) or in my highlights on Instagram.

My body of work is a visual diary, cataloguing endless creative possibilities. My home studio is situated in the Central West, NSW, Australia very close to the Blue Mountains.

“Flora & fauna surprise me, revealing secrets.”

Kelly Anne Shaw