ARTIST STATEMENT

 The Australian bush is my inspiration. I frequently spend time bushwalking, camping, and painting what I see in my sketchbook. This act of immersion in the natural world is the driving force behind my work, enabling me to commit places to memory and feeds directly into my studio practice as a painter and printmaker.

Seduced by the hues of the Australian landscape which differ vastly from those in England where I grew up, I mix my colours from 5 or 6 pigments and strive for colour harmony rather than direct representation. I seek to paint place as I experience it over time, not as a static view but rather as a fusion of memories and vantage points. When printmaking I employ the technique of monotype and collagraphy to explore the textures of the bush through mark making, layering and collage. I embrace the element of unpredictability that these techniques present, often working back into my prints by hand. 

As a migrant I see the bush as a strange and wondrous place, finding beauty in humble views such as a twisted shrub on a rock and the play of afternoon light on branches. I care deeply for our environment and have a particular reverence for trees, they are the figures in my work on the stage of this vast land. 

ARTIST BIO

Born in England, Bridget emigrated to Australia in 2010 to pursue her love of the Australian landscape, the source of inspiration for her paintings and prints. She lives in Fremantle working from her home studio and teaches painting and printmaking within the community.

Bridget exhibits regularly in both metropolitan and regional WA and has been selected for numerous art prizes. An active member of the Printmakers Association of WA, she won first prize for Printmaking in the Beverly Art Prize 2022. In addition to participating in collaborative exhibitions with artists collectives she has held four solo shows and regularly participates in open studio events including Artwalk Freo in 2024.