2025 Wrap Up

I had a slow start to the year spending several months suffering from chronic pain only completing a small number of commissions during the first half of 2025. As I recovered I was able to get through a backlog of jobs and returned to full time with a fully booked schedule several months in advance.

Completing almost 20 murals and more than a dozen signs from Murwillumbah to Outback Queensland and FNQ. These commissions saw me working with 8 schools (a bunch of fabulous P&C’s and Education Queensland) Queensland Health and Queensland Transport and Main Roads.

As another year comes to a close I wish to thank my family and friends. Also a big thanks for the support goes out to: Alexandra Hills State School, Aramac Ambulance thrift shop, Barcaldine State School, Capalaba Amateur Swim Club at Capalaba State College, Cairns & Hinterland Health Service, Charleys Creek Brewing Co Chinchilla, Animal Welfare League Coombabah, Leichhardt State School, Longreach State High School, Maleny, Coyotes Cantina Murwillumbah, Muttaburra Museum, Oxenford State School, Regents Park State School, Searles Outback Store Winton, Winton Outback Festival, Tattersalls Hotel Winton and Wondall Heights State School.

Meanwhile despite attempts to be involved, a $316,666 NSW funded, Tweed Shire supported project saw numerous artists from outside the area offered paid commissions on prime CBD walls whilst no such opportunity for The Sauce Studio to apply. Historical, cultural and community connections were disregarded while communication was shut down to ensure my exclusion. Unfortunately this is what collaborative placemaking and community engagement looks like in Tweed despite my experience in community and public arts being second to none and my efforts to see this type of project come to fruition suppressed and remain unsupported in the past. I will continue to tell my story and support the communities that support me, remaining independent of authorities that favour bullies, latte sipping trendy crafters lacking substance and frivolous notions of “local”…oh and what a shame the new welcome to Murwillumbah tourism sign does not contain any local artists work.

The first half of next year is almost fully booked so keep your eyes peeled for some exciting artworks. Share my work, support handmade, keep it real and I will catch you in the new year.

No AI

Ok I’m a bit late on this but it needs to be addressed as Ive witnessed and endured many changes in the industry over the years. During my early career I narrowly missed out on likely the last sign painting apprenticeship available. Digital printing had desecrated hand painted signs ensuring cheap, mostly poorly designed clip art became par for the course applied by anyone with a computer and printer. Sure these products serve a purpose but a niche market remains for quality, bespoke artwork which has longevity, particularly in all weather and extreme conditions.

Moving on and the public art industry has exploded with a million street artists most of whom have never done it on the street. These paint by numbers trendsetters armed with iPads and degrees applying pastiche designs tend to be flavour of the month for tenders and EOI’s but I wonder how many of these folk would survive without technology to assist. Just like tattooists, some artists are competent mural applicators but lack ability to develop a variety of original content and many entirely consumed by their social media image and half strength soy latte order. Call me a dinosaur but I miss the days of sending physical photos to potential clients before websites and internet were the norm and I still reckon I got paid quicker receiving cheques in the post than todays digital systems.

Over the past short while, the number of AI designs provided by clients has increased exponentially often accompanied with the request “I want this but can you make it better” This immediately restricts artistic integrity and reduces my income. Sure as a commercial artist Ill take a clients money to apply whatever they want but it undermines authenticity and disregards the skills developed over years to sketch and conceptualise an original design. Whilst I understand other artists have different methods I have never used a projector and will never use AI for concept development. Maybe Im a luddite or it’s my learning difficulties but computers have not made my life easier. New technology sucks the soul from creatives and will continue to decimate the entire industry with regulation lagging behind…I feel for early career artists and the struggles they will encounter. Copyright used to be a thing but as an independent artist I have little chance to protect my work or take on tech giants for unauthorised use. Its becoming almost impossible to source reference images that don’t look like robot vomit!

Share my work & tell a friend, its free to do so. Also be assured you are supporting handcrafted art made with love and a lifetime of dedication to the skills, knowledge and an authenticity that can’t be replicated.

Find more info on this topic via: https://thehumanmade.org

Coombabah

I was contacted by the team at Animal Welfare League on the Gold Coast to apply a design they had approved. As a dog person I jumped at the chance to assist as I am well aware of the fantastic role AWL does to re-home animals big and small. The volunteers offered great feedback as the mural progressed but it is them that truly do a wonderful job, I am more than happy to contribute to improving the aesthetics for adopters and their future best friends. The mural is situated in the shelter adoption area located on the Coombabah site and was supported by Gold Coast City Council.

Murwillumbah

Muchas gracias amigos. It was a pleasure to complete this commission (design supplied by client) at the soon to open Coyote’s Cantina in Murwillumbah. Located behind the Courthouse Hotel with access via Proudfoots lane, I can’t wait to taste some tacos and enjoy a cold beer at Murbah’s new Mexican restaurant and bar.

Cairns

It was great to head back to Cairns and hang out with family in-between commissions…I almost forgot about work for a brief moment soaking up everything the FNQ experience can offer! However I also had an exciting project lined up with the fabulous crew at Cairns & Hinterland Health Service at Cairns base hospital.

The commission entailed of artwork in the Respiratory and Renal Recovery ward in an area frequented by patients, staff and visitors. The chosen design encapsulated a serene vista of the esplanade and local surrounds, homely elements and incorporated the existing railing into the design.

The feedback was great throughout the application process and each day I remained in awe of the medical staff who do such an amazing job. As a contractor I witnessed similarities to working in the education system where staff are genuinely caring, professional and focused on positive outcomes. There was even a patient and carer who regularly checked the progress and were bitter sweet about going home before the mural was completed.

A big thanks goes our to the staff who saw this project come to fruition and I hope the artwork brightens everyones day in the ward.

Winton

Despite searing 43 Degree temperatures it was great to return to Winton and install new bottle shop signs at the famous Tatts Hotel. From designing a custom font, applying the artwork and installing it was a satisfying experience and I’m genuinely enjoying sign painting as theres plenty of inspiration in towns like Winton. After heading to Cairns I returned to complete another traditional hand painted sign for Searles Outback Store. The Searles commission will always be a memorable one since a change in the weather saw oppressively hot temps replaced with mud but also because this was my first foray using oil based 1shot enamel paints.

Manly West

After a short time in my studio painting signs for a hotel and an outback store and trying to keep up with a busy schedule of quotes and designs I ventured to Manly west to complete a project that has been in the works for some time. September school holidays came around fast but it has been a real pleasure to work with Wondall Heights P&C assoc.

Transforming Wondall Heights State School’s tuckshop and uniform shop from dull bare brick with cool ideas from students was an enjoyable process. I channeled the enthusiasm from all of the fantastic comments throughout the painting process into the artwork.

It sparked a bit of nostalgia being in the area again remembering family members, where I started learning my craft, completed an apprenticeship and began my professional career. Also one of the OHSC staff members turned out to be client from 25 years ago…I had to seriously jog my memory to recall those murals as they were pre digital camera era!!!

Maleny

In between a bunch of commissions on the go I managed to whip up this little gem on the sunny coast. The client had made contact after seeing my sign painting at The Sandstone Point Hotel and wanted the design applied directly to the brick wall in their newly built, super trendy rumpus room.

Barcaldine

I had just enough time to squeeze in a small job with Barcaldine State School. It’s been a few years since I painted the tuck shop and this time it was great to revisit the undercover area poles. I recall these were the first school poles I painted back in 2011 so It’s awesome to give them a fresh coat with a new design all these years later. The pics don’t really do the art justice but 8 poles definitely brightens up the space.

Winton

After enjoying my time in Longreach and in awe of the abundant wildlife I headed to Winton. I have completed an array of commissions, youth and community projects over the years. This time around I was slightly unsure of the scope of potential works however an enthusiastic client assured me half the town will be lining up for new signs and this had been somewhat verified by numerous enquiries whilst on tour.

Having admired many of Bill O’Briens local works and very much inspired by Peter Smerdons commercial work across the region I have developed a deep appreciation for authentic hand painted signs. Although I started with custom graffiti lettering and initially shied away from paintbrush and traditional signwriting after I narrowly missed out on the last signwriting apprenticeship with Brisbane City Council in 1996. Back then far from a gift or talent I couldn’t write between the lines during school and struggled with learning difficulties. Its full circle to be enjoying traditional brush lettering more than ever as a late career artist. Its also interesting how digital stickers put an end to much of the sign painting industry and now AI is wreaking havoc to the entire arts sector however in Outback Queensland they sell firearms, cassettes and radios and seek authentic artwork crafted with skill and applied with quality materials to endure the harsh conditions.

A huge shout out to Searles Outback Store, Tattasalls Hotel and the Winton Outback Festival for the opportunity to splash some paint around. It was great to catch up with a stack of locals and I thank all of the tourists who indicated support but refrained from asking stupid questions!

There’s no doubt Winton is a leader when it comes to tourism and events so it was no surprise there were crews filming Travel Guides while I was working in the main street. Councils on the coast should take some notes as the Australian Age of The Dinosaur Museum will be bigger than Dreamworld in the near future. I’m planning to be back in the area in coming weeks to complete a few more commissions because I support the communities that support me, the abundance of blue skies, fresh air and good vibes…oh and a Guinness on tap that’s a winner after a productive days painting!