2020 Port to Pub Artwork
We are so lucky to have Western Australian artist Kirsty Watkins produce our stunning artwork for 2020 – an acrylic painting of a Port to Pub swimmer nearing the finish line.
Kirsty is an artist, but also a seasoned open water swimmer. In fact, she’s signing up to swim in the 2020 event!
She is acclaimed for her ability to paint artwork that mirrors a photograph, and she’s spent a LOT of time on Rottnest Island as an artist in residence, with much of her work featuring the crystal-clear, rippling waters (above and below surface) of the Island.
She tells Port to Pub’s Jane Munday about herself and the inspiration behind her artwork.
I’m a Perth girl - I grew up in the Bickley Valley on the outskirts of the Perth Hills, which is where I formed my deep connection with the bush and nature.
I moved to the coast at Cottesloe as an adult and that’s where I connected with the ocean and its beauty and vastness.
I was always an artist, but one who was initially holed up in the academic world and then corporate life. I travelled a lot – to many rural areas in fact - where I saw a lot of our beautiful country and landscapes, but it was a stressful life. I found my only relief was to walk along the beach and to swim. Being underwater – in the world of sea life – was hypnotic, relaxing and inspiring. And I wanted to capture it to keep it with me.
I am a self-taught artist (with a Commerce degree, a Masters of Finance and MBA to boot!) I’ve learnt through trial and error and my skill in painting the ocean or vast landscapes has led to my photo realism style of painting, which I do in acrylics. I am lucky enough now to be able to be a full-time artist and I travel a lot to places I want to paint.
Rottnest is an inspiring place for me. I have spent winters living on Rottnest (everyone’s dream!) as an artist in residence, exploring and painting its many landscapes and colours. Living on Rottnest brings with it a new perspective – you see the Island pristine and perfect in the morning before the crowds arrive, and you stay long after they’ve left, and have the time to walk every trail, swim every bay, snorkel every ledge - it was a dream come true. I’ve spent months at a time there with my family, and we’re lucky enough to be considered Island locals!
You have painted a wonderful close up of a Port to Pub swimmer on his way to Rottnest. Tell us more about it.
It was a dream to be asked to create this year’s Port to Pub artwork! As a swimmer, a ‘Rotto girl’ and an artist, it was a perfect fit!
I work best from actual photos so we captured some swimmer ‘models’ around Thompson Bay and Parker Point using drone and GoPro from above, the side and underneath.
What I wanted most was to give that sense of being in the water – how that feels, seeing the bottom, feeling the salt water in your mouth and the sun on your back. Knowing as a swimmer you’re almost at the Island. I know what it feels like to swim to Rottnest – watching the sandy bottom and the grass beds as you get closer to the Island. It’s the best place on earth! That’s what I wanted to capture in this year’s artwork.
We are pretty excited that you’ll be swimming in the Port to Pub – how did you get into swimming?
Being a West Aussie, I always swam. Once I moved from the bush to the coast, I didn’t have a horse to ride, so I swam! I joined North Cottesloe Surf Club and spent lots of weekends doing ocean swims with the surf club crew. I swam for Penrhos back at school and I’ve trained in various squads over the years. I’m starting in Ceinwen’s squad soon to prep for Port to Pub. All up I’ve done 11 Rottnest crossings in teams and duos – I hope swimming is always part of my life.
And our bespoke RIVAL bathers are based on another of your paintings – we have a lot to thank you for this year!
I love the bathers! The image in the bathers is from the one of my most popular paintings called ‘The Mooring’. It is set underwater and features a boat mooring that draws the eye up to the surface. The water surface is the area of the painting that is featured on the bathers.
Thank you for the opportunity – I hope I can do more for Port to Pub in the future!
Where can we see more of your work?
I teach art and exhibit from my new studio gallery @thegreenroom at Leighton Beach, running adult and child painting sessions, one day workshops and weekly classes for those enjoying the passion and community of a regular class. I also hold regular exhibitions and my artwork can be found at a number of ocean-inspired venues including Hamptons, City Beach, Frankie’s on Rotto and the new Salt Store gift shop in the Rottnest Island Settlement.
Thank you so much, Kirsty!
**Kirsty’s artwork will be auctioned at the Port to Pub briefing night with all funds given to our charity partner Fremantle Foundation to go towards grants that benefit a wide range of groups in need in Fremantle and across WA.
Kirsty’s artwork will feature on the bathers, and the main artwork on the complimentary participant hoodie and towel, as well as the general merchandise hoodie. Order in your registration form or from KC Australia https://kcaust.com.au/shop/2020-port-to-pub-event-merchandise/
Insta: kirstywatkinsart
Mobile: 0400 884 022
