Published on Friday 28 July, 2023

Talented artist Christine has burst onto the Darwin arts scene with her vibrant paintings of animals, flowers and birds. To date, she has entered four exhibitions, won three awards and sold seven paintings. She has also been commissioned to paint ‘Sunset Birds 2’ after the success of her first painting on the same topic.

Christine is a person Lifestyle Solutions supports in the Northern Territory. In 2021, Lifestyle Solutions helped Christine find an art mentor to work with her every week to advance her skills and interests.

“Christine paints about things she knows and loves like Darwin and her local area, animals and popular culture,” said Claudine, Christine’s art mentor. “Recently she has painted the Darwin waterfront, and Mary Poppins above London after seeing a musical in Brisbane.”

Emanating colour, energy and light, Christine’s paintings are popular with her community.

In May 2023, at the local art exhibition at TEMHCO, she won her third People's Choice Award.

“Christine was competing with more than 50 people, so did brilliantly,” said Catherine, Service Specialist with Lifestyle Solutions. 

‘Wildflowers’ (above) won the People's Choice award 2022 at TEMHCO's Mental Health Week while ‘Waterlillies’ won the People's Choice award 2022 at the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia NT (MIFANT’s) Schizophrenia Awareness Week.

Exhibiting and selling her artworks have given Christine more confidence and pride in herself and her achievements. She now earns her own money and engages regularly with people in her community.

“She has a studio in her home where she spends a lot of time mixing colours and finding new subjects to paint,” said Claudine. “She likes to show her art and makes some paintings to sell. She also produces art for her home.

“At the moment, Christine is making some ABBA posters to hang in her room.”

Whatever Christine does next, it’s sure to be a success.