Australian children’s book author, illustrator and visual storyteller. I weave magic, creativity and fun into all I do.
It was early last year that I was doom-scrolling my way through Instagram when I saw an ad for an artist residency. The backdrop was a cute, stout lighthouse on the NSW coastline of Newcastle. They had hit their target demographic, and I was hooked.
I had just moved to the Gold Coast, started two new jobs and was settling into an entirely different rhythm of life. A week away at a lighthouse to focus on my creative practice sounded like a dream. Also, isn’t it every girl’s childhood ambition to live in a cute lighthouse, tend to a cottage garden and weave folklore and intrigue about their mysterious life? Or was that only me?
As 2026 rolled around, I had plastered a lighthouse onto my vision board, and I set the goal of a residency in my sights. Okay, but I’d never done one before, I had no idea what was expected or what I needed to apply, let alone actually go.
I figured it’d be like a more focused holiday, which isn’t entirely wrong if you’re willing to frame it that way.
There’s no packing list, but here’s a peek into my week at a lighthouse and a bunch of cute photos to prove it.
Lighthouse Arts, which operates from Nobbys Lighthouse, is perched high on a cliff’s edge just off the Macquarie Pier. It’s an initiative of the Hunter Writers Centre and is located in the coastal city of Newcastle, NSW. The traditional custodians of the land are the Awabakal People. There’s an informative video of the history of Nobbys Headland on their website here.
The lighthouse is still operational and run by the Port Authority of NSW, which meant we could admire and wander, but not actually go inside. That’s okay, I’ve seen Round the Twist and knew I’d have a good time in the vicinity anyway.
As it grows in popularity, the weeks and months book out in advance. I applied in February for an end-of-April, early-May residency. They offer two types of residencies, a week-long and one day a week spread over a month. I opted for the week-long, which is 10am to 4pm every week day.
The application process is simple; it’s a form that you fill out with why you want to partake and what you plan to create or do during your residency. Given that it’s also a writers’ centre, you can attend as a writer or artist. This was a tricky choice for someone who dabbles in both art forms, but I opted for art. I wanted to explore watercolours and papercut techniques and take a mental break from writing, so I opted for art.
I’d never had the fortune of visiting Newcastle before the trip, but I expected rocky shorelines and the opportunity for some good kilometres of wandering. I was delightfully welcomed by incredible warm weather, actually too warm, and that’s saying something from the Gold Coast! I had to do a quick shopping trip to the local sale rack of Sussan and grab some short-sleeve options. I only packed for brisk autumn weather and lots of layers.
Thankfully, I did pack my trusty runners and made great use of my Airbnb’s proximity to the beach and lighthouse. It was about a 20-minute walk. There is parking at the start of the pier, but you need to walk about 10 minutes to the bottom of the hill at Nobbys Lighthouse and make your way to the top from there. It’s steep, but the views are worth it. During my residency, there wasn’t a more accessible option, but they are raising money for a golf cart to provide transport.
And your desk changes too. This one confused me at the start. I had just lugged a few kilos of paper, craft supplies and anything I remotely thought I’d reach for in my creative pursuits. The idea of moving all my possessions each day weighed on me as much as I had carried. Turns out I actually loved the concept, I quickly got into the flow of packing up my desk towards the end of the day, just as the Director, Katherine, would be sticking the new desk allocations on the cottage windows.
I’m torn between my favourite views. Day Two was a standout; I had long white linen curtains dancing in the wind with a clear view of where the ships entered the Port of Newcastle. I’d watch the tugboats pull these giant ships in from the ocean and wait to hear the horn as they passed us by. This was also the same desk where I saw a pod of dolphins playing in the distance.
Day four was more secluded. I had a view of the ocean horizon, and I was greeted by one of the sweet willie wagtails on the fence. It’s a tough call.
At the beginning of the week, Katherine warmly welcomed our group of nine creatives and gave us the rundown on the spaces. There are three cottages spread closely beside each other on the headland. Cottage One housed her office, a kitchen, an artisanal shop, and a lunchroom.
Cottages Two and Three were for the arts residencies, with little rooms tucked away with desks, ocean views and room dividers to provide privacy. She finished her rundown that lunch together was optional, but normally at 12.30pm in Cottage One.
I actively look forward to any break that involves food and would watch the clock eagerly between my watercolours drying. Lunch isn’t included, but there’s a microwave if you need it, and I packed sandwiches to keep it simple. I enjoyed the mental break from my desk each day and loved the exchange of art practice, life, and work over lunch. I create in solitude, but I enjoy being around others; my work doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and I love the opportunity to be surrounded by emerging writers, lifelong artists and emerging creatives.
I’d recommend at least one lunchtime chat, but there is no pressure to socialise but you might make a friend or two in the process.
When you apply, you have to outline what you’d be working on. In my initial form, I wrote the following:
My project is entitled “The Calling.”
A small collection of nature and sea-inspired watercolour paperart.
As a multidisciplinary creative, I work across mediums from writing to digital art to children’s books. This project is a return to play grounded in whimsical colours, textures, patterns and beauty. I prefer to work on smaller artworks that build a collection; the size of each artwork will be A5 or smaller, using watercolour paper, watercolours, fine liner and double-sided tape. Creating layered artworks with depth.
In true to my nature, I deviated slightly from that concept when I arrived; it’s the beauty of a self-directed residency. You are allowed to change and adapt. Also, no one is going to hold you accountable but yourself. So if I went and didn’t do anything that was my choice, but it’s an opportunity I was not going to waste.
That was the beauty of it. I knew there were pieces I wanted time to work on, but what those were didn’t truly present themselves until I was there. I’m willing to admit I was a tad nervous on the first day. I kept thinking maybe I can’t draw anymore, or what if I didn’t produce a single piece over the week. As soon as I found my desk, spread out my supplies and put pencil to paper, those anxious thoughts washed away like the ocean tides below. I found myself with a friend early on, a little lighthouse-inspired mouse carrying a lantern.
It was easy to fall into a gentle routine. I loved the 10am starts and found myself more productive in the mornings and introspective in the afternoons.
The day before I left the Gold Coast, I ventured out for some last-minute watercolour paper and found a set of 5 handmade paper cards and matching envelopes. I popped them in with my order, and they turned out to be the best purchase. I used them as a reflection piece at the end of each day. I stamped my watercolour testing paper and wrote a few words to summarise the day. I started ambitiously on the first with a drawing to accompany it, and by the end, it was a more straightforward approach with a fineliner.
Really, it’s more likely that nature embraces you. The lighthouse isn’t open to the public on a weekday unless a cruise ship has docked. They also don’t allow visitors or guests during the residency, which is fair and respects the work of the other residents. So I made the most of my Sunday before the week and wandered up the headland with my husband and dog Gracie. We were pleasantly greeted by a pair of crows, perched appropriately on the lighthouse railing.
I was soon to be enamoured by all the birds I met throughout my week. I was particularly taken by a couple of willie wagtails, and eventually brought my camera with a longer lens than my phone. True to their nature, they are flighty and quick-moving birds. I continued to sit and wait for them. Thankfully, on day two, my desk provided the best spot to snap some pictures through the frangipani tree. Then I managed to get the best action shot.
Seeing my feathered friends became a daily ritual; they would fly around, and their twittering melodiously accompanied the sound of the ocean surrounding us. It’s definitely easy to get distracted by nature, but I welcomed it. I soon found myself drawing the flowers and bushes, and then settled into a collection of layered papercut seashells. What I initially outlined as my project really came full circle, after a few detours and a mouse picnic along the way.
This residency was really a gift to myself, I said it earlier, but it was as much of a holiday as it was an art-filled creative opportunity. I slowed down and really sank into my practice, and I can still feel the reset lasting in my system. I would love to make it a yearly ritual, but more so, I want to put into practice the stillness of those moments in my life. I’m all for slowing down, dolphin watching, and beachside meandering. I hope I get the privilege to walk up that steep hill again, but for now, I’ll keep my little lighthouse illustration guiding me to wherever my creativity takes me next.
You might be wondering what happened to all the pieces of art I created. Excellent question! As for the mice, I haven’t decided if I can part with those yet but I am looking for frames for the shell and lucky charms collections. In the meantime follow my socials for updates.
