Artist biography

My name is Shay Cornish, from a young age I’ve always had creative influences in my life such as my father who taught me how to appreciate the small details in life. Because of this I have managed to emerge into an artistic person myself. I have only dabbled in actual painting a couple of times, I mainly focus on graphic design/ digital illustration. Cats have always been a major part of my creative inspiration as I’ve been drawing them for literally years. I’ve won the 2025 Fraser Coast bookmark competition in the 12-17 age category and I’m excited to participate in more upcoming community projects including this one.  

Brief description of artwork

For this project, I have created a painting of a cat with a town on its back. Like a barnacle on a whale, this creative decision represents the coexistence of nature and modern society. The trees nestled amongst the houses highlight how we must understand the importance of sustaining our natural environment. The painting aims to show the unity of different personalities, backgrounds and cultures that shape society. The creative choice for a blue border can be interpreted as the sky or the ocean, since we live in such a beautiful beachside town. The cat is a part of my signature art style but can also demonstrate the importance of animals, specifically pets, to our sense of belonging in our community. I hope this unique creation, as well as the others included in this display, can help to inspire, uplift and open minds of community members of all ages.

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