Colleen Hood

Painter · Storyteller · Keeper of Beauty
Where movement meets memory, and nature whispers in colour.
Colleen Hood is an Australian artist whose creative life is a tapestry of compassion, heritage, and wonder. From her earliest years, she was drawn to beauty—rescuing animals, colouring with precision, and forming deep bonds with her beloved pets. Her childhood was a dance of expression: dressing in her Sunday best, curling her hair in rags, and taking her cat for drives in the family’s old Chevrolet Biscayne.
At seven, Colleen embraced her Scottish roots through highland and Irish dancing, a passion that became a lifelong source of joy and artistry. She later taught and choreographed, encouraging her students to explore movement as a form of storytelling. Her creative talents extended to embroidery, earning a commendation at the Brisbane Exhibition at age nine for a delicately stitched rosella parrot—an early sign of her eye for detail and love of nature.
In high school, Colleen flourished under the guidance of a teacher (Mrs Symonds) who nurtured her authenticity and bold expression. Though her parents preferred traditional styles, she was captivated by abstraction and inspired by the works of Botticelli and Monet. Her flair for visual design led to a career in fashion, where she became a sought-after window dresser and completed formal training in show card and ticket writing.
Colleen’s life has been a rich tapestry of music, dance, and devotion to animals, woven with threads of Celtic tradition and creative care. Married life was steeped in rhythm and heritage, with her husband and sons playing bagpipes and drums, and dancing lessons forming part of their daily routine. The family’s love for pets was ever-present—never without a cat or dog —and their respect for nature extended to camping, fishing, and beachside adventures that became cherished memories.
For over 26 years, Colleen ran a successful dog grooming business, blending artistry with compassion. Her travels through Australia, New Zealand, and the UK—especially the Scottish Highlands—deepened her connection to ancestral landscapes and cultures, reinforcing the sense of home and inspiration that continues to shape her creative life.
Since retiring in 2020, Colleen has devoted herself to painting and drawing, exploring watercolour, charcoal, and mixed media. A short course in charcoal drawing laid the foundation for her compositions, and she now blends techniques to create a style that is uniquely her own—breaking free from tradition to express the soul of her subjects.
Her work is inspired by the birds and animals that visit her garden, the resilience she sees in people, and the joy of movement and music. Each piece is a celebration of life’s beauty, strength, and interconnectedness—an invitation to experience the world through eyes attuned to wonder, heritage, and heartfelt expression.