As a child I spent my time drawing action scenes, dreamlike Bruce Lee inspired figures set in mid-fight. Following the onset of a serious mental health condition at just 16 years old. 

I left school mid year 11 after I lost friends and began getting bullied as my mental health deteriorated. 

I was lost through to The Black years. Struggling with both my mind and the failing mental health system of Australia. 

Finding myself in a cartooning class in the 1980's I was inspired to introduce ink to my work after the instructor encouraged my unique take on the medium. 

I was on the dole - as I was unable to work. The Dole agency suggested I do a wedding course, unfortunately the 70’ss in Australia was not a good place to be a young man suffering with mental illness, I was ridiculed and bullied for simply being me. After 12 months I was let go. That felt like a mercy. I have saved a bit of money and brought a little land in the middle of knowing where to isolate myself. 

My parents moved on to the property with me and built a house. At that point they finally noticed my struggle. They took me to the GP and psychiatrist, only to be consumed by a system. 

Living in the weekender, I thought I was being programmed to kill myself. I tried. Pills. When I woke up, I was disappointed that I had failed. I told my parents, they were upset, confused and scared for me. 

For many years I was unable to function in the smallest capacity as the medication I was prescribed reduced my capability to 0% 

450mg of clozapine. Catatonic and unable to operate as a person. I slept all day, awake only in a haze. I weighed 110 kg or 242 pound. Clozapine is a highly toxic medication and I now suffer many long term effects from this mediation. Including high blood sugar that has affected my sight, an enlarged spleen and unusually high white blood cells. 

Fighting my way back from The Black, took over 42 years, between psych wards, medication changes, side effects, self sabotage, incorrect diagnosis and general life struggles. 

In late 2000’s I started thinking differently about life, I realized that my life was being wasted, I wasn’t contributing to society and I was lost. 

I reached out to the local community mental health team, where I found a social worker who understood my struggle and helped me engage with a support agency. 

I experimented with my medication as a lifestyle leading me down a negative road. I stopped taking all my medication until rock bottom found me. Once I was honest with myself and my care team I met a new psychiatrist, some who listened and respected my experience. I was put on Aripiprazole a different medication, one that I found worked without making me a zombie 

 I was able to think and breathe and function again I began drawing. I maintained the dream-like movement in my work from childhood and built my skills through hours of work. 

Again in 2024 I was in yet another art class where I was inspired again to introduce colour into my work by the instructor who also had a dreamlike style allbeit more colourful and ectric than my own. 

As an artist I relate to Vicente Vague -both for the serlisitic style of his work as well as his mental health struggles and the tradgedy of his life's end. 

I am forever grateful for each day and my life that continues despite my attempts to end it. NOW I appreciate the opportunity to share my work with the world.

2023 Finally I fell into the NDIS program. A government sponsored program for people in Australia with psychosocial disability. 

This is when my life started. I began with Your Journey and specialized psychosocial support team who have helped me grow as a person and an artist. 

My mental health is stable, never perfect. My awareness, honesty and personal growth allow me to share my struggles as they come up so I never feel crushed by them. 

I will deal with the long term effects of the medication and treatment on my journey. But I am very grateful for the life I have now and I will continue to grow my gratitude with  each step.