GPS coordinates: -15.8742222, 129.05541666666667

Walking the Gurrandalng Walk, in the Keep National Park, I came across this magnificent boab just as the sun was beginning to set. The whole landscape seemed alive with colour,the deep blue sky, the glowing red rocks and the muted green of the surrounding country. It was the tree itself that captured me. Standing alone against the afternoon sky, it felt ancient, wise and full of quiet strength.

I took a photograph of it that afternoon because I knew it was a moment I never wanted to forget. There was something about the shape of the boab, its swollen trunk and twisting branches, that felt almost human, as though it carried the stories of the land within it. When I decided to paint it for the One Tree Art Prize exhibition, I wanted to capture not only the beauty of the tree, but the feeling of standing there in that fading light, surrounded by the vast silence of the north.

I used rich, vibrant colours because that is how I remember the moment. The landscape in the Keep River National Park did not feel muted or distant, it felt alive, glowing with warmth and energy as the day slipped away. The boab itself became the heart of the painting, standing resilient and grounded amongst the changing colours around it.

To me, this tree represents endurance, memory and connection to place. I still remember the feeling of awe I experienced when I first stood before it. Creating this painting was my way of bringing that moment back to life and sharing the beauty and spirit of this remarkable country with others.

Come and visit the painting of this tree at the exhibition.