Page 15 - Port Douglas Magazine 36

PARKED UP AND

PICTURE PERFECT

IN PORT

“Art should be something that
liberates your soul”

– KEITH HARING

WORDS by Rosie Wang PHOTOS by Marina Locke

ictoria McGrane is an artist who has not only Burberry she learnt her craft. All in a day’s work for her to turn up,
liberated her soul but her whole life! Following a sewing machine in hand, to make final adjustments to the model’s
full circumnavigation of Australia where the passing clothes as they strutted their stuff on the fashion cat walks.
Vsights were her artistic inspiration, Port Douglas is
now the place she wishes to call home. Whilst in London she met her partner of 18 years, a debonair
Scotsman called Darren, who was less Scots brogue but more
Little did she think when she was studying textile design in Merchant Ivory. Darren had studied politics and was working in
Sydney that her artistic journey would take her winding around local government and he provided the pragmatic balance to Vicky’s
Australia in Daisy (a 7m long Toyota Coaster Bus) her partner whimsy, the grounding anchor for Victoria’s creative soaring.
Darren, and their dog Gypsy to finally park up and cut the motor Initially, Victoria’s plans were to keep all her production,
in Port Douglas.
development, shipping and marketing ‘in house’ but this took
Once you know her art you’ll recognise her beautiful textile designs Vicky away too much from creating. With Darren becoming
everywhere. From face masks, to greeting cards, toiletry bags to increasingly involved in the logistics of the business they decided
wallpaper (featured in the current season of The Block) and, of the best strategy was one of licensing the artwork and building
course, on an array of clothes (Spotlight stock her material). up collaborative collections, including a beautiful range of
eco-friendly stationery and cards with Australian brand Earth
Originally from the northern beaches of Sydney, her early Greetings. This freed them up to be more flexible and the need to
internship and study found her working for seven years in the base themselves in one place was no longer required.
bustling and frantic London fashion scene. She designed and hand-
screened collections for trade shows and leading retailers (Top They decided to embark on their first travels just before Covid
Shop). As a freelance seamstress for high end clients, including struck in 2020. The ever-changing flora and fauna created a
royalty, and the heavyweights of fashion, Mulberry, Pringle and continuous source of inspiration to Victoria as she photographed

PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 17