Bronwyn Bancroft is an aboriginal artist, fashion designer, illustrator and arts administrator.
Her art celebrates the natural environment and uses a vibrant colour palette.
Bancroft is a Western Bandjalung artist, and a passionate advocate of arts and education for indigenous Australians.
She has illustrated 30 children's books and has Master of Studio Practice and a Master of Visual Arts from the University of Sydney.
She will be in New Zealand later this week, Friday 19 August for the IBBY children’s literature congress, to take part in a discussion about art across genres, age groups and culture.
After being “tied to a pencil” since she was eight, it was fashion that gave Bancroft her first big break in the art world.
“Art has always been an important part of my life. From the age of 6 I was involved in doing a lot of creative things, basically because I had three elder brothers and three elder sisters; so I was left alone a lot.
“So i just had to explore creative mediums in a way to understand what I wanted to do and I was good at it, I was good at it.”
Bancroft soon realised that by entering competitions, her art could also be a source of income.
“I'd probably clean up and get like $12 worth of first prize winnings and that would be, that was like an enormous amount of money.”
Bancroft says the essential joy of creativity has never changed.
“You start with just an idea in your mind and what you're feeling in your heart and your body and from your journey, and then you just basically start and create something from virtually nothing and build it up.”
