She has a great imagination for mosaic artwork design and loves nothing better than rummaging through a garage sale or recycle recover centre for her materials.

From today Susan’s works will be on display and available for sale at May Raechelle Art Gallery in Millthorpe through to the end of June. 

Susan said her mosaic story began in 2005.  

“Following a family tragedy, I enrolled in mosaic classes, working on projects for my home,” she said. 

“The experience was very therapeutic and rewarding, and has since grown from a hobby into a lifestyle!”

Her pieces are generally on display at Craft Corner in Clarinda Street. 

Susan also displays her art regularly at the Hall Markets and is available for commissioned work.

“All my art is created in a small studio on the hobby farm I share with my second husband, John,” Susan said.

“Together we have eight children and eight grandchildren. 

“I’ve recently retired from over 40 years in the nursing industry, and now I can find time for gardening, drawing and babysitting!”

May Raechelle Art Gallery is owned and run by husband and wife team Cathy Dorin and Bob Hughes.

“We source artworks including paintings, ceramics and sculpture from around the local area, around Australia and around the world – whenever we get a chance to jet off somewhere!” Cathy said. 

“One of our important aims is to hold exhibitions for regional artists who are just starting out on their art adventure.

“We are a modest gallery and see ourselves as a stepping stone for art beginners, hobby artists, etc to get their work aired and perhaps noticed.

“If their exhibit with us is successful they may have the confidence then to exhibit at larger galleries.

“Bob and I hope that we can be a starting point for someone to turn their love of art into successful art career.”

Cathy said mosaic art has been around for thousands of years, beginning on the walls of Mesopotamian structures in 3BC and in Greece in around the same period.  

“It’s an art form which developed from simple patterns and shapes to intricate figures of plants and animals,” she said.

“There are many materials used in mosaic art.

“The Greeks started by using uniform shaped pebbles, later inventing tessera where they would cut the pebbles to size and shape. Tessera developed into glass tiles and then ceramic. All made to measure and fit pre-designed patterns.

“However, some modern mosaic artists like to use recycled materials such as broken pottery, glass or ceramics having an amazing talent to see through a cryptic jigsaw puzzle of damaged pieces and envisage a design, a pattern or even an animal or a face,” she said.