Natalie describes herself as interested in architectural motifs and expressionism.

“I am not a realistic artist or technician – I am mainly interested in bringing out a mood and creating a bit of mystery,” she said.

This is demonstrated in her slightly surreal painting, I Am the Cat Who Walks by Himself, named after a poem by Rudyard Kipling.

Predominantly blues and yellows, it shows a curved streetscape illuminated only by streetlamps and light escaping from windows as a cat saunters towards a destination known only to himself.

This painting was a finalist in the 2017 River of Art Prize.

As a child Natalie was very involved in art – she filled sketchbooks with drawings of princesses and “streams of consciousness” images.

“I felt and feel free when I draw,” she said, but then added, “Mine was a family where you do well at school and got a good job.”

Graduating with a degree in sociology and politics in the nineties she worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and various other government departments in Canberra. And of course, while there she and musician husband Alex discovered the warmer climes of Batehaven and picked up a coastal “weekender”.

Later, back in her home town Melbourne she decided to get back into art, starting from scratch at the Council of Adult Education and trying her hand at a lot of different things.

The house they were living in was put up for sale and they decided this was a good time to “bite the bullet” and for Natalie to make the break and focus on her art.

Moving back to Batehaven, Natalie has started a Bachelor of Fine Art and Visual Culture degree through the Open University of Australia.

Currently exploring drawing techniques through the course Natalie says, “I have learned so much that I never would have thought of.”

Natalie works in a variety of media. Amongst her flower paintings at The Gallery Morning Glories at Dawn and Lilies in the Mist are experiment in ink washes on wet cartridge and pastel while Birthday Lilies and September Camellias are watercolour, again on cartridge.

Natalie’s artworks can be viewed whenever The Gallery is open, which in the cooler months is 10am to 4pm, seven days a week.

The Gallery is a co-operative venture of CABBI, a society open to local arts and crafts practitioners.  People interested in finding out more about CABBI should drop in to The Gallery, Mogo or phone 02 4474 2243.

To listen to a narration of Rudyard Kipling’s poem I Am the Cat Who Walks by Himself follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IbTHL-AXH8.