Heads of the Family is a series of 24 paintings created in the final weeks of my stepfather George’s life. I transformed the living room of our family home in Bendigo, Victoria, into a studio. As visitors came to say their final goodbyes, I asked them to look at the camera and think of George. Using these photos as references, I quickly painted their portraits while they were in his presence, capturing deeply personal emotions in this un-staged family environment. I was fascinated by the conversations, often very emotional, there was laughter and a sense of urgency. I felt that the paintings helped us all to accept, weep, celebrate, and simply be together with George.

I am drawn to the role as ‘death documentor’ and I have also been at the other end where a baby enters the universe. It is a sacred space and time unlike any other time and space. A privilege to be so close to life, to be welcomed to express and hold this time through the eyes of an artist, and to leave a keepsake for the sake of keeping.