While  developing some new studio works I began researching the history of my hometown suburb on the shores of Lake Macquarie. I chanced upon the Lake House Artist Residency website page and became the first artist in residency. Speers Point is the place where I was born and raised. It created a formative foundation for my identity. The opportunity to spend some quality time there again was important to me as a person and an artist. I hope to develop some major works that reflect on my time there.

This series of small observational painting studies was made on-location. The constant allure of 'lake views' in Lake Macquarie is not only an attraction to beauty and nature, but seems to represent a greater sense of belonging and, dare I say, custodianship. In addition to these paintings I took several hundred photos, made some notes and pen drawings, and revised places of significance.