Leura Swamp, Trees and shadows falling: The Painted River Project: Blue Mountains Rare Upland Swamps

This work seeks to capture both the resilience and fragility of the bushland surrounding the bushfire-affected upland swamp at Mount Hay, near Leura in the Blue Mountains. The composition centres on the blackened trunks of fire-scarred trees, the vibrant regrowth pushing through the understorey, and a rocky, exposed slope that recedes sharply toward the lower right of the frame—suggesting both vulnerability and renewal. The bright blue sky, added later in the studio, was deliberately painted to evoke a sense of optimism in the face of increasing environmental pressures, including urban expansion, bushfires, and intensifying weather events. Through these elements, the work reflects not only the physical impact of disturbance on the landscape but also its capacity for regeneration and quiet strength.