Can you tell us about your artistic practice and the themes you explore in your work?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, working across painting, sculpture, and textiles. My work is deeply influenced by my immediate environment, and I often explore recurring themes of home and habitat. I aim to capture the essence of the places I live in and the connections I feel to them.
Where are you originally from, and how has your background influenced your art?I’m originally from the south coast of England, in Hampshire, where the New Forest meets the sea. It was a beautiful area to grow up in, and I think my connection to nature started there. In 1994, I moved to Mindarie in Western Australia, where suburbia meets the expansive Indian Ocean. This incredible landscape has shaped my artistic journey profoundly. Walking, drawing, and swimming in my surroundings allow me to absorb the environment, and those experiences naturally flow into my work.
What formal training do you have, and how has it shaped your career?
I hold a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Visual Arts and Fashion from Edith Cowan University. That formal training gave me a solid foundation in both technical skills and creative thinking. Over time, my work has become part of public and private collections in Western Australia, which I feel is a wonderful acknowledgment of my journey so far.
How did your residency at the Inglewood Arts Hub influence your work?
Being an Artist in Residence at the Inglewood Arts Hub was such an enriching experience. It allowed me to become a temporary part of the Inglewood community, which is so different from my home in Mindarie. I loved immersing myself in the unique streetscapes, with their historic suburban houses, and exploring the Inglewood Triangle. That ancient bushland, untouched by time, was like a hidden treasure nestled in the heart of suburbia.
What inspired the series of abstract designs you created during your residency?
The contrasts I discovered in Inglewood really inspired me—the interplay between the timeless bushland of the Inglewood Triangle and the structured beauty of the area’s Art Deco architecture. Those juxtapositions sparked a creative energy in me. My work from the residency focuses on layering histories, with geometric architectural patterns blending with the organic forms of the bushland.
What did you enjoy most about working in Inglewood?
I loved uncovering the contrasts between the natural and built environments. The Inglewood Triangle felt like stepping into another world, and then you’d walk back into the beautifully structured Art Deco streetscapes. That mix deepened my appreciation for Inglewood’s layered history.
Can you describe your artistic process?
My process starts with hand-drawing designs on paper, which I then paint with gouache in flat planes of color. It’s a slow, meditative practice that I find incredibly rewarding. During the residency, I also started experimenting with creating repeating surface pattern designs. It’s something I’ve been fascinated by for a long time, and it’s added another layer to my creative exploration.
How has this experience influenced your perspective as an artist?
The residency has deepened my engagement with the interplay between natural and built environments. It gave me a fresh perspective and renewed creative energy, and I’m excited to see how it will continue to shape my work moving forward.
Connect with Susan:
Website: susanhoy.com.au
Instagram: @susanhoyart
