Suzanne, a multidisciplinary creator based on the Central Coast of Australia, was born in Glen Innes in 1965 and later moved to Dubbo in 1966, before settling on the Central Coast in 1972. Her creativity was nurtured by her Dutch mother, whose love for preparing birthday parties and leading the Girl Guides exposed Suzanne to a wide range of creative activities. From a young age, Suzanne excelled in artistic expression, coming first in her first art exam in Year 7, which confirmed her natural artistic ability. Though she pursued a Visual Arts degree after high school, Suzanne ultimately completed an Advanced Secretarial and Business Diploma, which helped support her creative ventures.
Suzanne’s professional journey began in various administrative roles, including working at a medical practice and a church. At the age of 24, she launched her own business—‘The Sydney Cove Craft Shoppe’—a consignment-based craft store in Old Sydney Town. The business was a success until a fire tragically destroyed it after two years. Undeterred, she reopened the shop in a new location, but eventually closed it before the birth of her son, Joseph, in 1994. During the early years of motherhood, Suzanne developed her teaching skills, instructing Folk Art from her home studio, where her students thrived artistically under her guidance.
Suzanne's creativity extended into the community, where she founded a children’s playgroup and led a children’s ministry in her local church. She also worked as an art dealer for local artist Neale Joseph for five years, during which time she endured the emotional toll of ten miscarriages. This personal struggle inspired her to write Treasures in Heaven, a book published in 2011, detailing her journey through grief and healing. Suzanne and her husband, Murray, later took on leadership roles at Encounter Life Church, where she established a creative ministry that supported various outreach and church activities.
Suzanne's passion for art continued to grow as she explored new mediums and styles, focusing on landscapes, seascapes, and abstract work. In 2015, a family trip to Europe allowed her to paint in Monet's garden, which profoundly influenced her artistic approach. She pursued a Diploma of Art Therapy in 2017, driven by her search for emotional release following her experiences of loss and grief. Suzanne continued to develop her art, holding exhibits in her home and local galleries, and opened her own studio gallery in 2019. She also pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts, completing it in 2024, and continues to inspire others through her emotive, gestural artworks, encouraging healing and freedom through creative expression.
Suzanne, a multidisciplinary creator based on the Central Coast of Australia, was born in Glen Innes in 1965 and later moved to Dubbo in 1966, before settling on the Central Coast in 1972. Her creativity was nurtured by her Dutch mother, whose love for preparing birthday parties and leading the Girl Guides exposed Suzanne to a wide range of creative activities. From a young age, Suzanne excelled in artistic expression, coming first in her first art exam in Year 7, which confirmed her natural artistic ability. Though she pursued a Visual Arts degree after high school, Suzanne ultimately completed an Advanced Secretarial and Business Diploma, which helped support her creative ventures.
Suzanne’s professional journey began in various administrative roles, including working at a medical practice and a church. At the age of 24, she launched her own business—‘The Sydney Cove Craft Shoppe’—a consignment-based craft store in Old Sydney Town. The business was a success until a fire tragically destroyed it after two years. Undeterred, she reopened the shop in a new location, but eventually closed it before the birth of her son, Joseph, in 1994. During the early years of motherhood, Suzanne developed her teaching skills, instructing Folk Art from her home studio, where her students thrived artistically under her guidance.
Suzanne's creativity extended into the community, where she founded a children’s playgroup and led a children’s ministry in her local church. She also worked as an art dealer for local artist Neale Joseph for five years, during which time she endured the emotional toll of ten miscarriages. This personal struggle inspired her to write Treasures in Heaven, a book published in 2011, detailing her journey through grief and healing. Suzanne and her husband, Murray, later took on leadership roles at Encounter Life Church, where she established a creative ministry that supported various outreach and church activities.
Suzanne's passion for art continued to grow as she explored new mediums and styles, focusing on landscapes, seascapes, and abstract work. In 2015, a family trip to Europe allowed her to paint in Monet's garden, which profoundly influenced her artistic approach. She pursued a Diploma of Art Therapy in 2017, driven by her search for emotional release following her experiences of loss and grief. Suzanne continued to develop her art, holding exhibits in her home and local galleries, and opened her own studio gallery in 2019. She also pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts, completing it in 2024, and continues to inspire others through her emotive, gestural artworks, encouraging healing and freedom through creative expression.