This is the story of a man who is happy making things with his hands.

When I was 16, without any tailoring knowledge I made a pair of pants that I wore to a party, the crotch ripped that night. That was the end of my fashion ambitions, but it did not deter me from the artisanal milieu, and so the story continues.

After several years as a shoe designer/maker, I took the opportunity to research & work in textile-based social enterprises in Vietnam, Nepal, China and India. This reinforced the social and environmental care that has always underpinned my ethos as an artisan – slow, functional luxury, made by hand.

Taking inspiration from my experiences, I developed my own textile practice based in Tasmania. I am currently based back in Melbourne. Turning to the immediate environment as my source of raw materials: dyes made from plants, reclaimed wool, cotton & linen.

Within a general field of contemporary though iconographic simplicity, I leave room for the chance encounter arising in the natural process – the signature of the Unknown Craftsman. Continuity in the traces of stitching forms lines of diversity that thoughts and feelings can travel down, converging with or diverging from the overall direction. It sustains a history and an ongoing narrative. I think of each piece as a new heirloom.

Awards//Exhibitions//Press

2025

BrayBrook Community Engaged Artist Residency, Maribyrnong City Council, VIC

QuiltCon exhibition, Phoenix Convention Centre, Phoenix USA

‘Process’ online group exhibition, Partnership Editions, London UK

‘Fashion Artist’ group exhibition, MARS Gallery, Melbourne VIC

2024

Artist in Residence, Woodleigh Arts Festival, Woodleigh School, Langwarrin VIC

‘Open Call’ Winner, Partnership Editions, London, UK

‘Working Memories’ group exhibition, FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery, Melbourne VIC

‘Show Your WESTSIDE’ Art Prize finalist, Footscray, VIC

‘Irene Davis International Tapestry Prize’ finalist, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Sth Melbourne VIC

‘Precious Matters’ installation, Melbourne Design Week, Booker & Co., Carlton North VIC

‘In Conversation’ group exhibition, Carrefour European Patchwork Festival, Alsace, France

‘In Conversation’ group exhibition, Peppin Heritage Centre, Deniliquin, NSW

Artist in Residence, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Sth Melbourne VIC

2023

‘Line/Loop/Line’ group exhibition, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Sth Melbourne VIC

Best Object Design ‘Creating Character’, Design Fringe, Linden New Art Gallery, St Kilda VIC

‘In Conversation’ group exhibition, Gallery 76, Concord West NSW

‘In Conversation’ group exhibition, Louis Joel Gallery, Altona VIC

‘Cross Stitch’ exhibition, Community Quilt, SchoolHouse Studios Gallery, Coburg VIC

2022

‘The Before Times’ group exhibition, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta VIC

2021

Art Quilting Studio Magazine (USA), Autumn 2021 issue

Curated Quilts Magazine - https://curatedquilts.com/blogs/news/together-from-afar

QuiltCon exhibition, modern quilting show, US

2019

Shortlist ‘Footscray Art Prize’, Footscray Art Centre, Footscray VIC

2013   

‘Melbourne Now’, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne - leather work

2012   

Winner, Who’s Next/Premiere Classe trade show, Paris - leather work 

Finalist, British Council Realise Your Dream UK residency, Sydney - leather work

2011   

Spotlight Emerging Designer Exhibition, 1000 Pound Bend, Melbourne  - leather work

2009   

‘Shoe Show’, Craft Victoria, Melbourne - leather work   

Winner, Fashion Palette Excellence award for accessories design, Sydney - leather work

Teaching/Talks - Select

2025

BrayBrook Community Engaged Artist Residency, Maribyrnong City Council, VIC

Facilitator, Patchwork corporate workshop, Shaw Contract, Richmond VIC

2024

Artist Panel discussion & Hand-stitching Workshop, Woodleigh Arts Festival, Woodleigh School, Langwarrin, VIC

Facilitator, ‘Naturally Dyed’ workshop, Design Fringe, Linden New Art, Melb, VIC

Facilitator, ‘Design a Sneaker’ youth workshop, Phoenix Youth Centre, Footscray VIC

Facilitator, ‘A Gentler Way to Colour Cloth’ natural dye workshop, PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival independent program, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne VIC

2023

Facilitator, ‘Intro to Improv Log Cabin’ workshop, Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne VIC

Facilitator, ‘Beyond the Log Cabin’ workshop, The Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild, Fairfield VIC

‘In Conversation’ exhibition, artist panel discussion, Louis Joel Gallery, Altona VIC

‘Cross Stitch’ community craft program, ‘Intro to Improv’ workshop series, The Social Studio, Collingwood Yards VIC

2017   

Guest Lecturer, Design Thinking, School of Economics, Tribhuvan Uni, Kathmandu

2015   

Guest Lecturer, Artisanal Design Processes, School of Design, RMIT Uni (Vietnam), HCMC

Guest Lecturer, Artisanal Design Processes, School of Design RMIT Uni (Melb), HCMC

Professional Experience - Select

Product Design Consultant, The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN), Kathmandu, 2017

Product Design Consultant, Mekong Quilts, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), 2014 – 2016

Director, Phong Chi Lai Handcraft Footwear, Melbourne, 2008 – 2014

Collections

Private collections in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, UK, Spain