These trees are much older than I am and will no doubt be here long after I am gone. We are all on this earth for such a relatively short time but while I am here, I will keep looking at the colour and light in this world and continue to paint joyful art that I hope will lift your spirits and fill your heart and home with happiness.

Hello. I'm Claire Ishino. I didn’t start out with the intention of becoming an artist but everything I have done in my life has led me to this work and, at last, I can say I love my job.

I studied Jewellery Design (and a year of Graphics) at the University of South Australia. After graduating, I worked as a designer and sales consultant in the jewellery industry in Adelaide before travelling to Japan to teach English for a year. One year in Japan soon extended to 8 years and, during that time, I created a range of jewellery that was exhibited and sold across Japan from Osaka to Tokyo. After becoming a mum, my focus shifted away from jewellery towards 2-dimensional art works and I love working in this form with the ability to introduce so many colours into my designs. Now I draw and paint almost every day (between doing all the other admin tasks necessary when you run your own small business) and I strive to create happy and colourful pieces of work that are filled with positive energy .

I work from my home-studio here in Adelaide and produce original gouache or acrylic paintings and black and white ink drawings. From these original works, I make limited edition archival reproductions printed on Hahnemuhle Bamboo paper. My work is inspired by Australian natives and other botanic forms and reflects my love of colour, repetition and pattern. I sometimes use flowers and leaves as visual metaphors to express words and thoughts or to convey messages. My style is clean and graphic with crisp edges between colours and small details reflective of my background in jewellery.

I exhibit and sell my work online and through local shops and galleries. I am proud to license my art to Earth Greetings for use in a range of earth-friendly greeting cards and stationery products. My illustrations appear on the 23rd Street Distillery Signature Gin, Rose Vodka and Violet Gin and Jim Barry’s Annabelle’s Rose. I have loved collaborating with other local creatives such as Kitty Came Home and Phoebe Lamps and have worked with Dusk Australia on illustrations for their 2020 Mother’s Day campaign. Most recently I completed an illustration for Jurlique used in their Mother’s Day packaging this year. As well as painting pieces to hang in your home, I enjoy exploring new ways to share my art with you.