Thanks for dropping by!

Every day is a gift, our life is the sum of each moment. I don’t want to whittle it away on pointless, empty things. I want to be intentional about being present in everything I do.

ARTIST | TEACHER | AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Bernadette!

Art has been a vital part of my life for as long as I can recall. I began exhibiting in 1994 and teaching in 1987. Rose Milligan expressed it well in her poem “Dust If You Must”

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.”

This poem first appeared in The Lady (September 1998).

It is now believed to be in the public domain.

So I thank God that I can feel His love and warmth encircling me and the gift that is Today!

Beauty is everywhere if we open our eyes and heart to see and feel it.

I hope that my art helps to open others open their heart-eyes and experience beauty they would have otherwise passed by.

Artist Experience

Freelance artist, photographer, and author. 1995-present.

  • Photography, pastel, oil, acrylic, photopolymer printmaking, watercolour, collage, collograph, encaustic and mixed media.

    Exhibitions, commissions, graphic design, book design, web design, magazine photography. 

    Gallery owner - Shiloh Art Studio 2008-2014, curator, exhibitions, workshops, artist talks.

  • Fine art print sales, freelance photographer, portraits, headshots, dance, commercial, contributor to iStock Photo, Lightstock.

  • Blossom 2023

    Autumnal Breeze 2023

    Tidal Flow 2022

    Sibiu 2022

    Wildflower Essence 2022

    Tapestry of Flowers 2021

    I Asked the Earth 2021

    Windsong 2021

    Floral Embrace 2020

    Art Equals Happiness 2019

  • Arts Zine 2018-2022

    Thrive Global 2018-2023

    Australian National Home Education Magazine 2005-2013

  • Local open group exhibitions not listed.

    In Between - Sydney 2023

    Textural Presence - Sydney 2023

    Luminious Moments - Sydney 2020

    Northern Beaches Art Prize (finalist) - Sydney 2020

    Transit - North Sydney Council, 2019

    Metamorphosis - Primrose Paper Arts, Sydney 2019

    Light - (finalist) SE Center for Photography, Greenville, USA, 2019

    Monochrome - (finalist) Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece, 2019

    Constant Cravings - Eramboo Artist Environment, Terrey Hills, Sydney 2018

    Creative Spirit - Creative Space, North Curl Curl, Sydney 2018

    International Garden Photographer of the Year - (finalist) Kew Gardens, London 2017

    Breeze - Hinckley, UK 2016

    Shiloh Art Studio - Martins Creek, Australia 2008-2014, 2 x annually

    Artist in Residence Vacy, Australia 2013

    Art Scrawl Capercaillie, (finalist) Australia 2010

    Tocal Field Days, Australia 2009-2011 annually

    Gresford Art Gallery, Australia 2008-2010, 2 x annually

    Northern Expressions Group Exhibitions, Sydney  2004-2007, 3 x annually

    Designers & Creators Expo Sydney, Canberra 2003-2005, 2 x annually

    Australian Craft Show, Sydney, Canberra 2000-2003, 2 x annually

    The Gallery C3, Oxford Falls, Sydney 1997-2002, 3 x annually

    Ethel St Gallery Seaforth, Sydney 1998

    Art in Action Expo, Paddington, Sydney 1996

    The Gallery 449, Balmain, Sydney 1994-1996, 4 x annually 

  • STUDY TRIP 2014-17 – UK, Europe

    Certificate IV Workplace Training 1997

    School of Creative Arts C3 Oxford Falls NSW, Australia

    Tutor Training Course for Adult Education 1995

    Manly Warringah Community College NSW, Australia

    Diploma of Creative Arts, Major Visual Arts 1994

    School of Creative Arts - Christian City Church Oxford Falls NSW

    Associate Diploma in Fine Arts 1992-1993

    Seaforth College of TAFE NSW, Australia

    Major Printmaking, Minor Design & Photography

    STUDY TRIP 1991-92

    Europe, UK, Egypt

    Associate Diploma in Art Ceramics 1989-1990 (incomplete)

    Brookvale College of TAFE NSW, Australia

    Certificate in Ceramics 1998

    Brookvale College of TAFE NSW, Australia

Teaching Experience

  • 1987-2024

    Mentoring and coaching professional artists. 

    Individual tuition, group workshops, homeschool classes for adults and children including people with special needs.  

    Drawing, design, painting, printmaking, watercolour, mixed media, photography, collage,  Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom.

  • 1996-2007

    National Home Education Conference Sydney, Australia 2007

    School of Creative Arts - Oxford Falls, Australia 1995-2004

    Hillsong Arts Conference, Sydney - 1995-1997

    Ozfire Conference, Sydney 1996-1998