Fibre Art

This artist feels that the hardest lesson she had to learn was to believe in herself … and once she did that, everything started to fall into place and her confidence grew.

- Caroline Sharkey

I work at my home studio/workshop in the beautiful seaside village of Urunga, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the New South Wales coast.

I made my first quilted project at the age of 12, with my grandmother who was very crafty! ‘Australiana’ has been the most important influence on the direction I have taken with my fibre artwork.

I spent time growing up in the west of New South Wales at Narrabri, and I remember the colours and textures from that side of the Great Divide – the heat and dryness of the land will always be a part of me. I was also influenced by tropical colours while living in Papua New Guinea as a child, where the vivid contrasts in the fabrics and unique patterns of the Chinese trading stores were fantastic.

I can hear the ocean from my home at Urunga, and I love to go walking amongst 100 year old trees in nearby forests. I am blessed to be able to retreat to this place when I return home from teaching or exhibition trips.

I attended Coffs Harbour TAFE (1989), to complete an Advanced Fashion Certificate, Millinery, Wearable Art, Fashion Drawing, and Small Business Management.

I am passionate about Australia. The colours, the places and the people. I am very proud to be Australian and that is what motivates me artistically … with a lot of the themes I create and the colours I use to design with.