I loved to draw as a kid. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, there was no such thing as the internet and with a only a handful of channels on the TV, drawing was a pretty good option.

I'd copy from photos, pictures, logos. Anything that tickled my fancy. Eventually I started drawing from life, usually things like shoes and staplers - things I could find in my bedroom.

In high school, I started painting and although I loved it, confidence held me back. Combining personal fear with the "gotta get a real job" concept, I abandoned painting and art in general when I went to university to study business and marketing.

Some 20 years later, with the encouragement of my husband and with gaping mouths from my children, I started painting again. The self-confidence was still an issue, but with the maturity of another 20 years under my belt, I pushed through. I loved painting, it made me feel good and I haven’t stopped since.

My work can be seen in several galleries in Australia and is held in private collections in the US, the UK, New Zealand, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy and of course, here in Australia.

I enjoy variety in my art, so it's not unusual for me to switch between a still life and a seascape or from a detailed, realistic landscape to an abstract work about colour. I paint big, small and anywhere in between!

Lisa Turner - Happy place (Online Only)