Page 16 - Port Douglas Magazine 36

“I paint flowers so they will not die”

– FRIDA KAHLO

and sketched the richness of nature’s creations as they unfolded through Daisy’s Through her designs, inspired by the Daintree Rainforest, she has also helped
windows. Managing to make it across the borders as they closed behind them, to raise funds for the Rainforest Rescue, an organisation committed to preserve
they headed to a close friend in Port Douglas where they hunkered down. the rare flora and fauna in this precious pocket of the world. To date she has
raised around $7,000 through the sale of calendars, colouring books and prints.
Their experience of Port Douglas coping under the effects of a pandemic
certainly didn’t dampen their experience and the spell of Port Douglas was cast. It is a testament to Victoria that she not only draws inspiration from the beauty
around her, but also has the heart to give back to help preserve it.
It was after another nine-month tour of Australia that Victoria, Darren,
“As a freelance seamstress for high end clients, Gypsy and Daisy decided to call Port Douglas home. As Victoria says: “I was
including royalty, and the heavyweights of fashion, inspired not only by the amazing beauty of the natural world here, but by the
Mulberry, Pringle and Burberry she learnt her craft” friendliness of the people”. Victoria’s future plan is to find a studio here (the
confines of Daisy were limiting) - so if anyone has a spare room that can be
set up as a studio do contact her. But the best studio that Victoria works in is
all around her inspired by the beauty and diversity of the natural world. And
Victoria discovered such diversity of inspiration right on her doorstep, from how lucky we are to have her here in Port Douglas immortalising the beauty
the ferns and fronds of the Daintree Rainforest to the shells and shore life of of our Paradise here.
Four Mile Beach. Her experience of snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef also
led her to develop a series of underwater designs. Swirling artworks with exotic
corals, turtles and colourful reef fish created a vibrant range. She also linked thescenicroutestyle.com
up with the Reef Restoration Foundation to produce a special calendar that
showcased this marine range with proceeds raising $6,000 towards their work
preserving and researching coral restoration and cultivation.

18 Port Douglas Travel Planner