Turning Paintings into Keepsakes

The Story Behind My Bookmarks

There’s something quietly magical about a bookmark. It’s a small object, often tucked away between pages, yet it carries a story of its own. For me, bookmarks are more than just placeholders in a book—they are tiny windows into a much bigger picture. Each one I create is born from a full-sized artwork, reimagined into something intimate, practical, and personal.

From Canvas to Keepsake

All of my bookmarks begin as an original artwork. A painting filled with brushstrokes, layers of colour, and a story woven into its details. When I finish a piece, I love to sit with it and look for little moments within the larger painting—the curve of a wattle branch, the sparkle of water, the warmth of a child’s face in the sunlight. These fragments hold their own beauty, and I love highlighting them in smaller, unexpected ways.

That’s where the bookmark comes in. By carefully cropping sections of the painting, I’m able to capture these little pieces of memory and turn them into something new. It’s a way of giving my art a second life—one that can travel with you, rest in your favourite book, and bring colour into the everyday.

A Handmade Touch

Once I’ve chosen the artwork section, I take time to design each bookmark so it feels special. They are professionally printed to keep the colours true to the original painting, and then I add finishing touches—like a tassel or ribbon—that make them feel more like keepsakes than just “bookmarks.”

The tactile nature of them matters to me. Just as turning the pages of a book is an experience in itself, sliding in a bookmark that has been made with care is another layer.

Why Bookmarks?

I’ve always loved the idea that art doesn’t need to live only on walls. While paintings are the heart of my practice, I believe art can slip into the small details of your life such as reading a book. A bookmark is something simple, but it holds meaning. It’s there with you during quiet evenings of reading, on long journeys when a book keeps you company, or when you’re marking a passage you want to return to.

For me, creating bookmarks is a way of sharing art in a form that’s accessible, useful, and deeply personal. They carry the essence of a bigger story but are small enough to slip into your pocket or maybe your favourite book.

A Piece of the Story, Just for You

When you hold one of my bookmarks, you’re holding a little slice of an original artwork, a memory, and a piece of the story I poured into the canvas.

After all, isn’t that what reading and art are both about?