A still life within the busy of life, 2025

A still life within the busy of life / for Oakleigh. 2025.

I was commissioned by the team at @oakleighcentral to create a painting that celebrated Mediterranean harvest favourites, and so a still life was the most appropriate - olive branches, citrus, and pomegranate. A plain tiger butterfly links Australia and the Mediterranean, as the species is found in both regions. I wanted it to be a celebration of culture, connection, and place.

A huge thank you to the super lovely management and security teams at @oakleighcentral. This mural feels right at home. Painted over four big night sessions.

I love plain tiger butterflies, or Lesser-Wanderer Butterflies as they're known here. Similar to monarchs, it is thought that plain tigers were one of the first butterflies to be depicted in art, etched into the Roman frescoes on the walls of the Luxor Temple 3500 years ago.