Underwater Woman

Sue is a Brisbane-based artist with a flair for making colourful artworks which explore themes of nature and botanicals. Although she has had no formal training, Sue participated in a folk-art class and was hooked as soon as she painted her first brush stroke.

Sue has had bipolar since she was 17 years old but had a late diagnosis at age 40. Because of this, she often sees the world through a vivid lens, translating her experience onto the canvas. Art gives Sue a way of expressing herself and helps her to describe her inner world and the world around her to others.

In my youth, I spent much of my time scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Whilst working as a cook on a tourist boat, I was able to dive two or three times a day. I became so accustomed to life underwater that I felt like I was living as a mermaid. This painting is an homage to that special time in my life.