My name is Aimee Hurley and I am an emerging mixed media artist who has been living in Margaret River for the last 21 years. My passion for art was ignited during my idyllic childhood in Albany.
As a little girl, I often got lost in the world of books, fairytales and daydreams, with my parents reading Peter Pan, Narnia and stories by Enid Blyton to me every night before bed. This world of reading inspired my imagination. I would often leave notes for the fairies in our garden as fairies, mermaids and other mythical figures were very real to me. My father was a boat-builder and he encouraged my sister and I to have competitions to see who could draw the best mermaid. I have been guided by my passion for art throughout my entire life, and my work now evolves from my childhood memories and dreams.
I studied Art and Design in Albany as a young adult and have been self-taught ever since. I feel the need to create something every day and often stay up late at night to work when the world is quiet. I enjoy using layers and combining many different mediums, such as acrylics, gesso, posca pens, gelatos, watercolours and more. I also love to use recycled materials for stamping; painting on recycled cardboard and old record covers; as well as using fabric scraps, wrapping paper and pages from old books for collage and for constructing my backgrounds.
For me, creating Magic Realism art is very healing and therapeutic. As an artist, I continue to find inspiration in fairytales, children’s books, fantasy, anything vintage, our region’s beautiful wildflowers, beaches and forests, my dreams and my imagination. Now I am the mother of three amazing children and we help each other see the world through eyes of hopes and dreams. I believe that art enhances the beauty of our surroundings, and that fantasy art stimulates the imagination, providing an escape into magical lands and the promise of happily ever after.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Margaret River Open Studios for the first time, to be able to share my most recent works with the local community that my family and I love, as well as with visitors to our beautiful part of the world. I hope my whimsical, fairytale art sprinkles a little magic and enchantment over the viewer and makes them smile. My aim is to create a calming, peaceful aura to connect with the child inside us all. Being an artist fulfils my soul and quite simply makes me happy. After all everyone needs a little magic in their lives.