MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD
Artist Profile: LeeLee West
For as long as LeeLee West can remember, art has been an anchor – a thing of certainty and safety, a way to make sense of the world.
“I was a highly sensitive child,” said the Hervey Bay artist, graphic designer and art director. “I was drawn to illustration and writing short stories from a young age, and I was always handdrawing covers of my school books. I had all these big feelings in a small body, and I was trying to find a way to express all of it.”
Story: Christina Ongley. Photo: Cody Fox
COVER IMAGE: Stephen Preston, till death do us part, 2023, acrylic on canvas. Photo: Aaron Skuse, Fraser Coast Regional Council. Stephen Preston's work is exhibiting at Gatakers Artspace until 13 April 2025.
It was in high school that she was steered onto the earliest stages of her artistic voyage. “A careers counsellor said to me, ‘you have to be a graphic designer’,” LeeLee said. “But it wasn’t until I did a Diploma of Visual Arts and started seeing the work I could produce that I had the confidence to say I was an artist.”
Following a range of roles including an arts administration traineeship at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, and branding and graphic design jobs with printers and design agencies, she’s spent the past decade freelancing as LeeLee Creative and discovering new and interesting waters.
There are plenty of pieces of LeeLee’s work around the region you’ve probably seen without realising – external signage illustrations in the windows of The Story Bank, Enzo’s on the Beach branding, and a series of illustrations and murals throughout the Hervey Bay Library.
“With the corporate work, there are handdrawn elements in all of it – that’s my style,” she said. “I try to bring drawing into everything. It warms up the corporate environment and helps to tell human stories.
“But I also love being part of groups where we get to do things together. I love helping others to unearth their ‘why’ and finding the bits that matter the most. If I can find the core of it, I can do a good job.”
More recently, LeeLee has taken artistic collaboration to a new level by specialising in large-scale murals and visual identity design for mental health support spaces across Queensland, including The Oasis at Hervey Bay Hospital. In so doing, she’s been able to create works that give others a feeling of safety, of calm in a storm.
The artwork projects are co-designed with mental health consumers and staff. “What interests me about co-design is how it’s so many people’s hearts and voices involved; it’s not just mine,” she said. “It’s just the most rewarding, purposeful, interesting work.”
Earlier this year, art came to LeeLee’s rescue again when faced with one of the biggest challenges of her life – losing her dad, Peter.
“Last year I was one of six facilitators as part of an Arts in Health pilot program, which was all about no-pressure approaches to art making – just putting pen to paper, finding joy and calm,” she said. “I then had to lean on that during a challenging time for our family, particularly when Dad was in intensive care. It helped me process what was happening.
“It gave me clarity and a sense of calm and groundedness. It gave me an anchor. And I’m so grateful because now I have these beautiful visuals and things written down that help me feel connected to my dad. It’s portable self-care.”
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166 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay 4197 4206
Open Tuesday to Friday: 10am - 4pm
Weekends: 10am - 2pm. FREE ENTRY
Exhibiting until 11 May 2025
Emma Thorp: The In Between
Exploring the challenges of motherhood as an artist, tackling the complicated desire to carve out time for oneself and art ‘in between’ life’s responsibilities.
Natalie Lavelle: In the Making
Raised in Hervey Bay, this is Natalie Lavelle’s first major exhibition on the Fraser Coast and the first survey of her practice to date.
Joyce Watson: Family and Country, many people’s stories
Aunty Joyce Watson explores her ancestral connection to Waanyi Country in North West Queensland.
National Interests: Australian Art in the 20th Century Pairing artworks from the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Art Collection with significant works from Australia’s national collection.
Exhibiting until 2026 Events and Programs
Floor Talks: Natalie Lavelle, Emma Thorp & Joyce Watson Sat 1 Mar | 10.30AM
National Gallery of Australia | Teacher Professional Development Fri 21 Mar | 9AM
Images (from top le ): Image: Emma Thorp, Washing. Basket. Weave., 2024, pencil and ink on paper; Natalie Lavelle, Untitled (Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue), 2020, oil on Italian linen, 213cm x 168cm. Courtesy of Stable Artspace; Joyce Watson in the studio.
Exhibiting until Sun 13 April
Stephen Preston Storm in a Teacup
A collection of thoughtprovoking post modern works.
The Wight Family Creations
Highlighting the ‘Wight Family’s’ love for diverse art forms.
Artist In Conversation
Stephen Preston
Sat 1 Mar | 10am
Rebecca Staunton Coffey & Sharon Anderson
Sat 1 Mar | 11.30AM
WHAT’S ON | MARCH 2025
311 Kent St, Maryborough 4190 5818
Open Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am - 3.30pm
Weekends: 9.30am - 2pm. FREE ENTRY
Julie McGillivray
My Land, Your Land
Exploring the contemporary tensions between people and place.
Rebecca Staunton & Sharon Anderson Abstraction II
Large bold and colourful abstract textile works.
The Wight Family
Sun 2 Mar | 10AM
Julie McGillivray Sat 8 Mar | 11 AM
Creative Space Showcase
Maryborough Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society Inc | Celebrating a Milestone Until Sun 11 May
QAGOMA Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour Until Sun 19 Apr
Workshops & Activities
Creating Arts Programs for Children Workshop Sat 15 Mar | 10AM - 1PM Wild Woolly Workshop -
; Julie McGillivray, Swap Banksia; Terry Wight, Stop Clock ; Sharon Anderson, Grace; Maryborough Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society; Wild Woolly.
Kent & Richmond Sts, Maryborough 4123 7221
Open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm Weekends 9.30am - 2pm. Entry fee applies
in the birthplace of her author PL Travers
Explore the heritage listed former bank as you interact with displays featuring the life of P.L. Travers and her enchanting stories of the practically perfect nanny. Featuring two levels of interactive displays, pocket park and retail shop.
Become a Volunteer
Fraser Coast Scene is distributed free as a marketing and engagement initiative of Fraser Coast Regional Council. It’s about promoting Council’s programs and services by sharing stories of our arts and cultural community and their connection to Council’s spaces.
STAY INSPIRED!
This guide shares a taste of Council’s arts, culture and heritage program and was correct at time of printing. To keep up to date with the latest information visit our website.
We welcome contributions from our creative community. For more information email ArtsCulture@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
Wharf Street, Maryborough 4190 5722
Open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm Weekends 9.30am - 2pm. FREE ENTRY
A taste of the past
Explore the Bond Store and let this beautiful, heritage-listed building share its stories as you wander through the space.
Add to your experience with tantalizing tales and fantastic flavours. Enjoy a selection of premium quality ports and liqueurs as our storytellers share tales inspired by objects from our collection.
Take home a taste of the region with delicious delicacies or curious keepsakes.
www.ourfrasercoast.com.au/volunteer CONTRIBUTE.
Fraser Coast Regional Council acknowledges to the east, the Butchulla (Badtjala) and to the west, the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) People, their connection to Country (land, sea and sky) and recognise the many places of cultural, spiritual, social and economic significance in the community. We pay respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge other First Nation Aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islander people, who reside in the Fraser Coast region.
Hypnotise Me – Andy
Vening, Comedy Hypnotist
Sat 1 Mar | 8.00PM
A hilarious journey into the world of hypnosis, where the boundaries of reality blur, and the mind takes centre stage.
Macbeth – Screening
Sun 30 Mar | 4.00PM
A screening of Shakespeare’s most extraordinary psychological drama - led by David Tennant in the title role, with Cush Jumbo as Lady Macbeth.
5 Walker Street, Maryborough 4122 6060
Box Office Open Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 4pm
MRAC Cinema Club presents Divertimento
Wed 12 Mar | 6.30PM
Followed by refreshments
Film release date: 2024 Film language: French
Aida – Metropolitan Opera Screening
Mon 31 Mar | 1.00PM
Packed with magnificent choruses and elaborate ballets, features an epic backdrop for what is in essence an intimate love story.
A Midsummer Nights
Dream –
Shakespeare by the Bay
Fri 21 Mar | 7.00PM
Sat 22 Mar | 7.00PM
City Park, Pialba
Shakespeare by the Bay is an exciting outdoor spectacular.
The Black Blues Brothers – Rokitz
Entertainment
Tue 1 Apr | 7.30PM
Acrobatic and Cirque Spectacular. The international smash hit coming to Australia in 2025.