Vanessa Perske is a Sunshine Coast artist with a big love for colour, nature, and all things joy-filled. In 2018 she packed up, hit the road, and did the classic “Big Lap” around Australia—painting, exhibiting, and selling her art straight from the places that inspired her. From red dusty tracks to sparkling coastlines, that adventure still fuels the bold energy in her work today. 

Vanessa’s paintings are a lively mash-up of texture, pattern, and vibrant colour—always inspired by the Aussie wildlife, native plants, and big landscapes she adores. Her style is intuitive, spontaneous, and a little impatient (in the best way). She paints fast, feels deeply, and lets instinct guide her brush and palette knife, creating pieces that feel fresh, fun, and full of life.

Before diving into art full-time, Vanessa studied a Bachelor of Education, which taught her how to break down big ideas and make them feel simple. You can see that clarity in her artwork too—there’s meaning behind the layers. She paints the way she lives: with energy, curiosity and fun. 

Her love for art started early—she sold her first piece at just eight years old—and that spark has never left. With a two-decade career behind her, Vanessa’s work remains bold, colourful, happy, and genuinely mood-lifting. Her paintings have become known for their versatility and cheeky sense of personality, constantly evolving as she does.

 She’s also proud to support the Love Your Sister charity with her delightful characters—Barry the Emu, Gerry the Giraffe, and Lu the Emperor Penguin—who’ve become favourites with collectors. With five solo shows and two Archibald Prize entries, Vanessa’s work now lives in homes and corporate collections across Australia, Europe, the US, and Asia. She continues to create from her home studio on the Sunshine Coast, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a very loved shih tzu—surrounded by colour, chaos, and endless inspiration.