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.

Murwillumbah

I won’t be attending the upcoming Proudfoots Lane Party in Murwillumbah. Whilst the notion “In Murwillumbah” suggests local content I wander into wonder how we have ended up with such nonsense. You may have seen some murals popping up about town funded by the NSW Government’s Community Improvement District (CID) pilot program Murwillumbah CID $316,666 grant. This project sprouts to be for everyone however in my experience this has not been the case. The project has fallen short in many aspects of project consultation and delivery and is yet another example of a Tweed Shire supported project which has excluded The Sauce Studio.

Since growing up in the Tweed Valley and completing my first mural at the family farm in C. 1989, (and going on to fail art in High School in 1994 in Murwillumbah) I have 25 years professional experience as a full time self employed mural artist and have pioneered many of these types of projects during extensive experience in the community arts sector. Given my dedication to Public Art and murals and ties to the specific locations as detailed and pictured below, It appears either incompetence or exclusionary practices have played a role in this instance. Furthermore, whilst there appears to be some opportunity for local emerging artists, the lack of local content for larger scale works is disappointing. Numerous featured artists commissioned are from outside the area who are described as fresh energy for promotional purposes.

In recent months I was contacted by the event organiser and we discussed workshops and murals. I was informed I would be notified when opportunities to apply were open for murals. I contacted Business Murwillumbah who initially responded and indicated opportunity to work together. I was assured there had been an extensive consultative process prior to my email being blocked and no reply from a follow up web contact from submission on my behalf to maintain communication.

I rented a working studio & gallery space in Proudfoots Lane during 2013/14 where I held 4 solo exhibitions and also created numerous murals in Proudfoots Lane along with facilitating stencil art workshops and participating in community events and involvement in the local business chamber. I had seen designs, signs and a variety of art commissions throughout the Tweed area come to fruition whilst advocating for Murwillumbah to be a cultural hub with this type of project. I assert in this instance I have again been overlooked or excluded given my history with the specific area in conjunction with my professional experience with this type of project being second to none.

In a broader context is disappointing Tweed Regional Gallery and M-Arts haven’t supported local mural artists. This coincides with exclusionary practices by local government which continue to drive talent out of the area. For this reason I complete dozens of murals each year across Queensland each year for schools, business, community groups and local government. I used to be local, now I just live in Murwillumbah.

Murwillumbah

I was recently commissioned to give The Racing Snail Van a fresh coat of paint. With the blessing of a trusting owner allowing me an open brief, I thoroughly enjoyed letting the concept and colour palette evolve. Ensure you give these friendly folk a wave when you see them in Murwillumbah and around the Tweed. Also a huge thanks to Jugs for artistic assistance.