We are beyond excited to introduce our latest RO artist collab - say hello to the wonderfully vibrant Sheree Smith! Based in the dreamy coastal town of Jervis Bay, Sheree brings colour, structure, and a whole lot of heart to her creative practice. A busy mum and passionate painter, Sheree’s art is all about joy, repetition, and those little moments of calm that bring us back to ourselves.
We sat down with Sheree to chat all things creativity, balance, and why sneezing might be her secret superpower (yes, really!)
RO: First things first, tell us a bit about the wonderful world you live in!
SS: I live in Jervis Bay on the beautiful South Coast of NSW, Australia with my husband and two kids who are 10 and 13. We love to travel, recently returning from a family holiday in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. In 2023 we also travelled around Australia in our caravan on a family adventure! I juggle full time government work with my art business, which means I am a VERY busy mum indeed. I am lucky to have a very supportive husband and kids that are now old enough to fend for themselves here and there! I try and squeeze in the gym as much as I can for self care and visits to our beautiful Jervis Bay beaches over the summer to fill my cup.
RO: How did creativity first find its way into your life?
SS: I have always loved art and anything creative. At school, it was my favourite subject and when we purchased our first home, I made art to fill her blank walls. Adult life, work and then kids came along and that put any creative aspirations I had on hold. I started painting again to carve out some time for myself, as a means of self-care and personal growth. My career has exposed me to vicarious trauma, working with people with complex needs. My art practice has become a mindfulness exercise for me, a form of art therapy. My work explores the simplicity of repetitive mark-making, capturing moments in time. Lines of experiences, adventures and explorations that are etched into memories.
RO: What sparks your inspiration and keeps those creative fires burning?
SS: I love lines and repetitive patterns. I love the simplicity of shapes and forms. I like neat and I like structure, I'm not a messy person by nature. I gain inspiration from fabrics, from sewing and the natural environment too. The bush out my back window, the trees standing tall in lines. From our beautiful Jervis Bay beaches nearby, the repetitive nature of the waves washing up onto the beach and the rocks with the interesting line patterns, worn over time. In 2023 I travelled around Australia with my family and was full to the brim of inspiration from this beautiful country—the colours, the rock formations, and the ocean—truly breathtaking!
RO: What does your creative process actually look like behind the scenes?
SS: As I mentioned before, I love painting in this repetitive mark-making style as it acts as a mindfulness activity for me and I enjoy the patience and resilience required to paint in this way. My abstract works are fun, bright, sprinkles of happiness. I work with vibrant colour palettes that bring smiles to faces and joy to the observer. My art brightens up spaces with the power of colour and simplicity. There isn’t much planning involved before I start a piece (unless it's a commission of course!). I tend to start with some leftover paint colours from previous works as a base layer before I start mixing up some colours for the line work. I mix up colours I feel like working with on that day and just go for it! More often than not, it just works, sometimes a colour needs a little tweaking to help resolve the painting and get it to the point I am happy to call it done. I mostly paint of an evening when the kids have gone to bed or early on the weekend morning while everyone is sleeping or having a lazy morning, so you will often find me painting in my PJs and UGG boots! I do enjoy putting on some music on occasions, but often also enjoy the peacefulness and quiet and paint in silence which gives my brain a chance to process the day and be with my own thoughts.
RO: If you had to describe your artwork in just three words, what would they be?
SS: Happy, colourful, joyous.
RO: Running your own creative biz can be such a ride—what’s the best and trickiest part for you?
SS: Best thing would have to be making your own decisions and not working to someone else's agenda. Working most of my career in government there are always constant changes, priorities and shifting processes. In my art business I am in control, I call the shots and it's great not having a boss to answer to! Worst part would be that it can get a bit lonely and isolating sometimes, hiding away in the studio with little social interaction! I am certainly more of an introvert, but after a while it's time for some human connection for sure!
RO: What do you hope people feel when they see your work?
SS: I have had lots of collectors and people that come across my art at art fairs and galleries comment on how joyous and happy my pieces make them feel. I want people to feel so happy and full of joy, relaxed and soothed when they look at my pieces. Like taking a big deep breath out and put a smile on their face.
RO: Let’s pretend art isn’t on the cards—what would you be doing instead?
SS: As a kid I always wanted to be an interior designer, or a florist... I love any job that's got that creative element to it!
RO x Sheree Smith Shopper Bags COMING SOON!
RO: OK, we need to know—what’s something totally unexpected about you?
SS: When I eat too much, I sneeze. Like I'm talking up to 10 sneezes over a few minutes. It took me half my life to figure out what it was, but it's called "Snatiation" which is a combination of the words "sneeze" and "satiation" and refers to the involuntary sneezing that occurs after eating a large meal. It's very handy to stop me from overeating, as it's impossible to shovel in more food when I'm having a sneezing fit!
RO: What advice would you give someone who's dreaming of starting a creative path?
SS: Absolutely go for it! Keep the day job, start up your creative passion on the side and see where it takes you! Put the hard work in, be passionate and give it all you have got!
RO: And finally, do you have a quote or mantra you live by?
SS: "This too shall pass"
When times are tough it's been my go to, to remind myself that nothing is forever! I found this mantra so useful during childbirth and on those early years where being a new mum was particularly challenging!
We’re absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Sheree for our latest RO collection. Her joyful, vibrant artworks are the perfect dose of colour therapy - we can’t wait to share all of the goodies we’ve created together.
SHOP RO X SHEREE SMITH HERE
Follow Sheree on Instagram: @shereesmith_art
See more of her work: shereesmithart.com
💛 Team RO x