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 for 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 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 2018-2025
Thrive Global 2018-2023
Australian National Home Education Magazine 2005-2013
-
Local open group exhibitions not listed.
Exhibition 2026 - Gresford Community Gallery 2026
Open Studio - Boat Harbour 2025
Summer - Gresford Community Gallery 2025
Forces of Nature Art Lovers Australia - Melbourne 2025
Winter - Gresford Community Gallery 2025
In Between - Sydney 2023
Textural Presence - Sydney 2023
Art Lovers Australia Prize Finalist - Melbourne 2022
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
Download Your FREE Resources!
Colour Muse Visual Toolkit
Colour Muse Visual Toolkit
The creator’s guide to confidently crafting harmonious, inspiring colour palettes through curated photographs, a step-by-step framework, and ready-to-use sample schemes.
