ARCHIBALD ENTRY 2026

Titled “A Touch Of Sparkle " Acrylics on Canvas 

My first time entry was not selected as a finalist, however, the process of entering the high profile Sydney exhibition at the AGNSW was super exciting.

The back story for my portrait of Sylvia Raye singer / entertainer to the troops in Vietnam, portrays a then and now composition of Sylvia back in the 70's on stage in her famous sparkly mini dress which is now on display in the War Museum in Canberra. Sylvia today is looking up and thinking " Wow was it really that short ". The image which includes the word Vietnam where Sylvia performed has been written in calligraphic brush script style lettering giving me the opportunity to use my hand lettering skills. The background in an army green tone, a contrast to Sylvia's fabulous humorous side of her personality.

I loved painting my very special friend and for me this was not about winning, it was about telling the story of Sylvia, then and now, visually, 

On show at the Tap Gallery ( Real Refuse`) 21 May. 6-8pm.

 Number Six Park Road  - A3 size Pencil Sketch

This pencil sketch is a quiet act of preservation.
Number Six Park Road is a modest cottage, soon to be demolished, yet rich with history, music, and human warmth. Knowing the house will be gone within twelve months compelled me to capture its presence before it disappears from the landscape.

The home belonged to one family for over sixty years. When I moved in next door, it was owned by a remarkable woman whose love of music filled the space. Her piano was the heart of the house, and many joyful sing-songs echoed through its rooms. That musical spirit lives on in her children and grandchildren, woven into the walls as deeply as the timber and brick.

Though the descendants have now moved on, the character of the house remains palpable. I could not allow it to be erased without marking its existence in a way that felt personal and intimate. Drawing it by hand became a form of quiet tribute—an attempt to honour the life, laughter, and creativity it once sheltered.

When this little cottage is eventually raised to the ground, Number Six Park Road will never feel quite the same. The structure may vanish, but the memories endure, held in graphite, paper, and remembrance. SOLD