To Share a Moment, Capture it in Paint
Artist Statement
I am an Australian artist with a passion for birds. More than just capturing a likeness of birds, I want to share some of those special moments I have spent watching birds through my art. I aim to portray their unusual and fascinating behaviours, the beautiful places they live, and the funny things they do. Like black swans ripping green weed from the bottom of a river, pelicans preening and leaving a trail of soft feathers in the water, or grey fantails fan dancing amongst the trees. I enjoy developing art that is both true to the subject and my own interpretation of the mood to produce unique and vibrant works.
I work from my own photos as my ideas and inspiration come from watching the birds, not just the still photo. I believe a painting should tell you something more than a photo; something about the character or behaviour of the bird, or the mood or feeling of the place or moment. I use many different styles and techniques in my art depending on the story I am telling in each particular painting, but there are a few characteristics of my work that are quite distinctive. I like to use line to add emphasis, impact and sometimes to suggest movement. I generally use very bright and pure colours to create bold paintings; I find this adds life and brings joy to my paintings.
Exhibitions and Awards
2025 "Hidden Gems" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Finalist
2024 "A Tail of Two Birds" Duo Exhibition with Toni Bielby
Logan Art Gallery
2024 "Small Works" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Two Finalists
2024 Recovered Futures Exhibition
King George Square, Brisbane
2024 The Australian Artists Awards (AAA)
Able Gallery, Finalist (Montgomery)
2024 "RQAS Members" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Two Finalists
2024 "Abstraction" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Finalist
2024 "Feathered Treasures" Solo Exhibition
Scrumptious Reads Gallery, Red Hill
2023 "Art of Imagination" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Two Finalists
2023 QWASI 40th Anniversary Exhibition
Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc., Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens
'Award of Excellence' for "Everything Pales in Comparison"
2023 "Materially Designed" Exhibition
Royal Queensland Artists Society, Petrie Terrace Gallery
Four Finalists and Winner of 'People's Choice' Award for "Everything Pales in Comparison"
2023 Brisbane Rotary Art Show
Central Plaza One, Brisbane
Exhibited Finalist
2023 Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show
3rd Place "Sweet Scarlet Swerves"
2023 Commonwealth Artists Prize
First in Queensland, Second in Australia
2022 Eye Catching Fauna and Flora Exhibition
Brisbane Botanical Garden Mt Coot-tha
2022 Saving Wild Homes Art Competition
Awarded Runner Up for "A Leaf's View"
2022 "Birds of the Sunshine Coast", Yandina Historic House
Awarded Highly Commended for "Don't Ruffle My Feathers"
2021 “Did U Know” Wildlife Art Exhibition, Cooroy Butter Factory
Increasing interest and awareness of SE Queensland Wildlife
2020 “Outside In” Exhibition, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital Kangaroo Point
Bringing some joy and colour of the outside world into the hospital.
2020 QWASI International Wildlife in Art Exhibition
Awarded highly commended for “Unmasked”.
2019 “Outside In” Exhibition, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside
Bringing some joy and colour of the outside world into the hospital.
2019 Petite Pieces Exhibition, Aspire Gallery
Three paintings exhibited as Gallery Finalists.
2018 QWASI Australia Wild Art Exhibition
Runner up in People's Choice for “Rufous Masquerade”.
2018 THECA Art Exhibition, Chapel Hill
Runner up in People's Choice for “Paint the Town Scarlet”.
2018 “Bird Tales” Solo Exhibition at Bulimba Library
Telling the stories of birds through paintings.
2018 Foot Square Exhibition, Aspire Gallery
Awarded local business sponsor prize for “Glamah”.
2018 QWASI International Wildlife in Art Exhibition
Awarded highly commended for “Propagation of Wild Rose”.
2017 “Outside In” Exhibition, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital
Bringing some joy and colour of the outside world into the hospital.
2017 Scody Cycling Brisbane Jersey Design Competition
Third place with design printed on cycling jerseys.
2016 QWASI International Wildlife in Art Exhibition
Commended Award for “Albadango”.
Commended Award for “There’s a Toucan out my Window”.
2016 Finalist in Brisbane City Council CityCat Design Competition
Designs from all finalists are displayed inside the CityCat.
2016 “Outside In” Exhibition, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital
Bringing some joy and colour of the outside world into the hospital.
2015 Published “Through my Eyes” Art Book
Limited-edition art book, written and produced by Kristy-Ann, telling the stories behind her paintings.
2015 “Through my Eyes” Solo Exhibition
In Kristy-Ann’s second solo exhibition at The Substation in Paddington she invited viewers to ‘See the Wonder of Birds Through my Eyes’.
2015 “Outside In” Exhibition, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital
Bringing some joy and colour of the outside world into the hospital.
2015 Petite Pieces Exhibition at Aspire Gallery, Paddington
Highly commended in judged award and winner of the People’s Choice award.
2014 International Contemporary Masters VIII
Published in an international art book featuring contemporary artists.
2014 QWASI International Wildlife in Art Exhibition
Awarded highly commended for “Fan-Dancing Fantails”.
2014 Exhibited at the grand opening of the Flourish Interiors Showroom (Bulimba).
2014 Joined the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc. (QWASI)
2010 “Making my Mark” Solo Exhibition
In Kristy-Ann's first Solo exhibition at Percolator Gallery in July 2010 (dedicated to her husband), she revealed her love for birds, a passion she shared with her husband.
