Philanthropist and Humanitarian

From 2004, Di’s career took a new path into Philanthropy, this year she has already supported, Variety WA, St John’s WA, The Magic Coat and Youth Ballet WA. It all started when Di nursed a daughter with a sever head injury at 71/2yrs old she wanted to give back to the amazing institutions and support organizations that helped her daughter recover and become a highly functioning adult. Today, she is gifted and respected music teacher. 

​

Di’s journey started with Telethon (WA) to support the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. Donating a very large painting at the Blue Ribbon ball that raised $5,500. She immediately realized this was something she could do to make a ‘difference’. She continued helping Telethon until 2007, then started working directly with the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. Through Telethon, Di was engaged to work with TV personalities for Celebrity Art and then the Kylie Andrews Foundation, over four years she helped raise funds to build a house in Broome, WA as respite facility for children with Leukemia.

​

Di’s was emotionally impacted by the loss of her best friend and fellow artist, Meredith Hardy to Beast Cancer, since then she has become heavily involved with the Cancer Foundation of Australia and Breast Cancer Care WA. This intense experience changed her life forever to a more spiritual outlook on life’s journey.  With Meredith’s passing, Di started painting Angels, seeking answers from the universe and looking for a deeper meaning to life.  ‘I see the angel, as an iconic representation of hope and our spiritual beliefs, connecting us to the universal mind’. Believing in the passive philosophy of Buddhism, Di donates her artwork to fund-raising events, without expectation of remuneration, and no set reserves or advertising exposure.  Her only desire is that the charitable organization use her paintings to raise funds for worthy projects … and the successful bidder enjoys the artwork.

​

In 2010, Di was asked to represent Save The Children WA, within remote Indigenous communities in the Northwest of the State throughout the Kimberley region. She ran a number of art workshops that inspired children in these remote schools over a five-year period.  Her first workshops in Kununurra were particularly challenging. Di started painting the dramatic landscapes of the Kimberley that now features heavily in her work with the bold ocher colours and dramatic sunsets.

Di discovered that her unique experiences of these communities gave her the freedom of expression and knowledge that was invaluable when working in the West Kimberley visiting the Dampier Peninsula and communities of Beagle Bay, One Arm Point, Djarindjan, Lombadina, Wamun and Wyndham.  Driving to these remote locations enabled her to see and capture the amazing landscape on canvas.  Even today, she continues to travel to the region and paint the magnificent landscape of the Kimberley.  Di was made Ambassador for Save the Children, until she resigned in 2016.

​

As an accomplished and recognized artist in WA, Di was asked to become a Director on the Board of Artrinsic Inc. and helped found the first portrait prize in WA, The Black Swan Portrait Prize, now the third largest art prize in Australia. Judging, hanging and being the Artist Representative for 10 years, aiming to enable other artist to be seen on a field of excellence in their own State. The Black Swan, now called The Lester Prize, had over 60% of artists throughout Australia competing in WA. Resigning in 2017 when her father passed away in Sydney (NSW).

​

In 2017, ‘10863 Bushranger’ project- Di was asked to be the inaugural artist in residence for the North Midlands Project, based at ‘The Bank Gallery’ Carnamah in the wheat belt country of WA.  She produced a series of paintings on the local bushranger Frank Thomas, along with running school and artist workshops in the towns of Carnamah, Three Springs, Coorrow, Morawa, Mingenew and Enebba including the Carnamah Agricultural Society. Producing over 20 paintings and narrative images based on bushranger, from local stories, police reports and oral histories from local farmers. Creating an interactive event and online engagement, promoting awareness of mental health, wellness and engagement. The resulting exhibition, ‘10863 Bushranger’ presented by Act-Belong-Commit, was launched in Carnamah in 2017 and toured to the Sunshine Festival in Geraldton and to the historic Fremantle Prison in Perth - where Frank had been held under prisoner number 10863. Then in Geraldton Project in 2018,

 

Driven by her strong philanthropic ethos, more than 50% of Di’s career since 2010 has been dedicated to various noteworthy charities. Her life experiences have influenced the diversity of her work and she remains a successful and well-respected independent artist in her hometown of Perth, WA.  Di’s continues to be involved in charity work and in 2013 established her own studio gallery called “DiVerse Studio”.

​

Di’s ongoing philanthropic work includes ‘Guest Artist’ annually for the Rafikki Surgical Mission to Tanzania in East Africa. Other local foundations and charities such as the Variety WA, Red Kite WA, Cystic Fibrosis, Starlight, Bali Children and Homeless Connect.  

​

She is extremely proud to be connected to Ads-Up in New York NY, Australian expatriates living in the NY helping the Nauru and Manus Island Refugees resettle in the US.  Undertaking a live art demonstration and donating two paintings to be auctions at a New York event together with exhibiting my work in New York City in 2019.

​

Continuing her work in 2020 with Bush Fire Relief, Variety Toy Bank WA, Variety WA, and Rafikki Surgical Mission. Each year her  commitment to contribute to community grows and is expressed in her work.