Renee (Dja Dja Wurrung People) has lived her whole life in Bendigo, Victoria, and only took up painting in 2019. Painting with acrylic on canvas, Renee uses traditional linework to depict themes of family and ‘my cultural journey’, she says. As well as sharing her ‘personal experiences with recovery’.

‘Painting makes me feel relaxed’ states Renee. ‘It fulfills me, brings me peace and joy. Gives me quiet time to myself and be able to stay grounded’. Significantly, engaging with art has given Renee ‘an identity away from the troubled person I used to be…and has empowered me to keep asking questions about my heritage,’ she says. ‘I want to inspire people’.