“I think my art and my job as a Councillor have coalesced over the years.

Much of my painting material these days tends to be about the area I represent in Council, the inner city of Brisbane. So I'm actually borrowing subject matter for my art from my job as a Councillor.

My 'day job' is assisted by my art in several ways. Firstly, I'm able to donate paintings to many organisations in my community. For example in the month of October I raised several thousand dollars for Windsor State School and a charity to assist homelessness. Over the last 20 years, I estimate I've been able to contribute around $100,000 from the donation and sale of my paintings. As well, having a good eye for the 'aesthetic' is useful for a Councillor. We should be trying to improve the beauty of our local area -- our parks, streets, malls and plazas for example. So art and politics are by no means mutually exclusive!”

David