The Story Behind Moss Cloaked  Guardians

Sometimes you don't choose the subject. It chooses you.

While exploring with my daughter Riley on the Gold Coast, we wandered off the main path and stumbled upon a grove of ancient Antarctic Beech trees. The moment I saw them, I stopped. There was something about them that drew me in. I couldn't explain it at the time, but I knew I had found something special.

Standing amongst these magnificent trees was an experience I'll never forget. They seemed to possess a quiet strength, their presence almost haunting in the most beautiful way. It was as though they had stood there for centuries, silently watching over the landscape.

Looking through their trunks, I could see glimpses of the water in the distance. They seemed to stand on the edge of two worlds—firmly rooted in the earth while gazing towards the sea. I found myself wondering about everything they had witnessed over the years. The storms they had endured. The changing seasons. The generations of people who had walked beneath their branches.

What captivated me most were the extraordinary roots and moss-covered trunks. The way the roots rose from the ground and wrapped around the earth like sculptural forms left me speechless. Every twist, every texture and every patch of moss told a story of resilience, endurance and time.

Long after we had left, those trees stayed with me.

I couldn't stop thinking about them.

I knew I had to paint them.

Moss Cloaked Guardians is not simply a painting of trees. It is my attempt to capture the feeling of standing in their presence—the sense of awe, stillness and respect they inspired. To me, they are guardians of the landscape, quietly watching over the place they have called home for generations.

My hope is that when someone stands before this painting, they feel just a little of what I experienced that day: a moment of connection, wonder and appreciation for the remarkable beauty and resilience of the natural world.