Meet the Artists

Seed Art Initiative

In partnership with the Butter Factory Arts Centre local artists were commissioned to design the seed packets for the Noosa Seed Library. These packets are unique works of art in themselves, making them beautiful and interesting items to collect and display

Anne Yang

Nasturtium and Pea – Sugarsnap

My childhood was spent on the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, in tropical Far North Qld, Australia with rainforests, crater lakes, waterfalls and mountains. Much time was spent outdoors, and my love and appreciation for the natural environment was nurtured from a young age. I paint in response to this emotional connection to my subject, delighting in the beauty of unspoilt nature, be it the rugged beauty of the bush or the vibrancy or delicacy of a flower. The mediums I employ include both soft pastel and oil, and I enjoy the unique qualities of each. I enjoy capturing the contrasting variety of colour, texture and form in the landscape and the illuminating power of sunlight. I paint en-plenair whenever possible, especially if travelling, and this helps me to observe unique characteristics of new subjects. The feeling of being present in the landscape is what I seek to instil into my work often imparting a feeling of repose, an escape from life’s often too frenetic pace. 

Find me at: http://www.anneyang.com.au

Dale Leach

Cucumber (NEW) and Marigold

Cucumber plants grow similar to a vine, and will grow best when they can grow vertically. It’s recommended to train them up some lattice, a fence, or even an archway. While they could grow in a pot, they’re happier in the earth where they can spread out.

Marigold Magic! Marigolds are a favourite, no-fuss annual that can bring the colour of sunshine to your garden, as well as butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and other beneficial insects. 

Find me at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dale.leach.oz/  
Website: https://www.daleleachart.com 
Bluethumb: https://bluethumb.com.au/www-dale-leach-com-au

Fiona Groom

Lagos Spinach and Parsley

As an Artist I like to create emotion, reaction and narrative in my work. The Natural World but manly Animal Life are what inspire and inform me on what direction I need to take, and as the composition slowly comes to life, this new painting has established itself with its own story, its own response to evoke and a sentiment that lingers on.

Find me at:
Website: www.fmgfionagroomvisualartist.com  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionagroomartist  
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fgroom_artist  

Kiah Jardine

Basil (NEW) and Dill

I am a local artist from the small village of Boreen Point. Since a young age, I have always loved to draw and paint, I mainly use acrylic paint, water colours and fine liners. I like to draw birds, insects and other animals but I also draw people in my own style that is influenced by Japanese manga and anime. I was selected to design a seed packet for Dill. The inspiration for my design came from watching the yellow ladybirds climbing through the Dill flowers in the Boreen Point community garden.

Leisa Gunton

Bean –  Snake and Tomato – Tommy Toe

During the Covid lockdown, a lot of people started vegetable gardens, and we were no exception! Leisa hadn’t had a vege garden of her own for a long time, but this time a lot of planning would have to go into it because of the 7 brush turkeys that also live here. After feeling rather proud of the garden, the opportunity arose to create artwork for the seed bank, for which I am really grateful to be able to do, it felt like an award for all my digging, planting, mulching, watering, bee attracting and seed harvesting! My un-conventional water colour painting/drawing is on 600gsm water colour paper, using Windsor and Newton water colours and then detailed with pen. 

Lexie – Jade Abel

Alyssum (NEW)

Emerging contemporary artist exploring the natural landscape through a colonised vs coloniser lens. A Kunja and Wiradjuri descendant, born on Ngemba country, raising a revolution on Jinibara land. Lexie navigates being a white appearing woman whilst exploring her family lineage and how it is integral in her interpretation of the land in which she lives and creates on.
Dabbling in paint, mark making, eco dye, weaving and clay, Lexie is also an arts educator who is passionate about accessibility, inclusivity and social activism. When she isn’t in the veggie garden you’ll find her at a local creek or water hole pulling out invasive weeds.

Find me at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lex_loves

Michele Knightley

Lettuce – Salad Bowl Green and Chilli – Bishop’s Crown

ichele is an artist from Noosa producing Environment based, original artworks with a Coastal Australian theme. All her inspiration comes from the local environment, and she is in constant awe at the brilliant design evident in every aspect of nature. She works in the traditional mediums of painting, drawing, printmaking and photography. Michele has also developed her own technique of combining all of the above mediums, through digital editing techniques, to produce original artworks that are in a digital format. The designs for Michele’s seed packets, Chillies and Lettuce greens have been made with this method. Michele has always been a keen gardener, and has a plot in the community garden at Boreen Point that provides fresh produce to add flavour to the family meals.

Find me at: http://www.micheleknightleyartist.com

Find me on Instagram @michele_knightley

Sophie Munns

Cosmos and Coriander

“You have to really look at seeds … often appearing so small, so humble & easily unnoticed… yet so profound as to shape the natural world and history of human culture on the planet” ~ Sophie Munns
Australian artist Sophie Munns launched the Homage to the Seed Project for the 2010 Residency at Brisbane Botanic Gardens after an introduction to the Queensland arm of the global Millennium Seedbank Partnership set up by Kew Gardens. The project has since taken her on many residencies, working with Seed Scientists, Botanic Gardens, in diverse bioregions, in search of further knowledge on how science contributes to conservation programs, shifting climate conditions and awareness of all kinds of current impacts at force on the planet’s vast seed inheritance. Observing and recording in journals, taking copious photos, the artist has developed a unique visual language around seeds applied in the painting of large works on linen and mixed media work, innovative concertina & artist books, paper works & printmaking, all contributing to the conversation about the story of seeds. Authentic knowledge is recorded from the primary source – the seed. “Art as an interpretive medium has the capacity to represent multiple complex layers: The poetic side of life: The science: The history: The culture: The everything! The central motivation behind all my work as an artist is to reveal through research what is at stake and why seeds matter” Sophie Munns

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