Willy Sheather’s paintings are an exercise in imagination. The landscape surrounding her home, in rural NSW, forms the backdrop to her theatrical interior world. Sheather says of her works: “they reflect my internal space. Some of them are autobiographical – they represent me wrestling with my artistic gift; wanting it to be well used”. EXHIBITED HONG KONG 2007 BLAKE PRIZE FINALIST 1998 TATTERSALL'S PRIZE FINALIST 2000, 2001 Sheather's latest series takes the artist as its subject. At times Sheather ventures into her creations. She can be found washing her brushes at the river’s edge; resting on an oversized palette after a hectic session in the studio; and as an artistic adventurer adrift in a cockatoo-powered basket. She draws us into her realm of fantasy. First and foremost Sheather considers herself a colourist. “The colours reflect the warmth and the qualities of the river nearby. I can see it from the window of my studio. I become absorbed in the way it flows.” The effortless ebb and flow of the river is a fine metaphor for her facility with paint. Sheather readily acknowledges the influence of Chagall, Blackman and Picasso on her oeuvre. Another inspiration is classical music – her sole and constant companion in the studio. Having exhibited her work for more than 15 years, Sheather is now represented in diverse collections throughout Australia, Hong Kong, USA, and UK.