I was desperately unhappy and felt that I was living the wrong life. Our discomfort in life is a message that something is not true for us, or we are not where we should be.

I ignored this feeling for years and it was only when I won the ‘Best Client of the Year’ from my local Thai Takeaway that it really hit home that I had to leave this life or risk living the same life when I was sixty.

I started with a list, on that list I wrote all the things I disliked about my life and then wrote on the opposite side of the page practical solutions or things that I could try that I thought would bring me joy, love, compassion and contentment.

It was simple and the only way I knew how to start. It proved to be the most beautiful journey of my life with trial and error, but every step gave me much needed insight and information that allowed me to take another step.

So, for me, health is related to joy and happiness, so, I believe the more I allowed myself to do things that were true for me the healthier, happier and more confident I became.

I loved Italy from the minute I took my first step into Piazza della Signoria in Florence. It felt natural, a more human dimension and easier way to live, less physical isolation and more togetherness and it was what I wanted. I wanted to be part of something, and Florence felt manageable and friendly. I just followed what felt good and made tough decisions with that as my rudder.

In the beginning I went to language school so had a group of ready-made friends and then I lived with an Italian lady who generously told, showed and invited us to take part in a very Florentine way of living. All of it felt natural to me.

Paris is a ‘big little city.’ Even though it is one of Europe’s most dense cities you can live it like a neighbourhood, and this is one of its charms. Everything you need in Paris you can find in your own arrondissement therefore you can spend time on foot and getting to know the people in your neighbourhood.

Paris prides itself on championing beauty and art no matter whether it is a shop, a garden, a gallery or wrapping a patisserie there is mindfulness involved. They genuinely value art and respect beauty, and this makes living there a beautiful experience and I always felt valued as a photographer.

I have always loved animals and living in the city. I wanted to find a way to help animals where I knew the money would go straight to the foundation and the people involved. My good friends Claire Lloyd and Matthew Usmar have worked for years rehoming dogs and cats. The ‘Lesvos Strays’ is a shelter they work with that tirelessly rescues and shelters abandoned dogs.

My friends introduced me to the beautiful Vassilia, and I had the joy of seeing how much love and devotion she puts into the dogs and where I can I support this wonderful cause.

Learn more about Lesvos Strays.

For a good solid fifteen years I worked for magazines and loved every minute of it, it allowed me to see many worlds that would have otherwise been off limits. I have always tried to create projects and photography for myself and was lucky to work on eight books with Penguin Australia.

At some point I decided to just keep following the feel good and when things became stale, I would ask myself ‘if I could do anything I wanted in life what would I do,’ and then I would find a way to do that. This led me to simple decisions such as to create my own beach series and eventually my Young Girl in Bloom work for myself.

I respect my energy more now than I ever did. Years ago, I would run myself into the ground, overdo things and over give. Age is such a great teacher that you can do less but still be effective. Each morning, I ask myself what my priorities are and what will bring me joy and then I use that to stay on track.

The list is endless of things you can do in life, and I have become better at seeing what a waste of time is, and what things are important to invest my time and energy into. This helps me also not to just do any old project for the sake of it which I may have done years ago. I assess myself to see if I am enthusiastic about something and I use my enthusiasm to guide me. If I am enthusiastic, I can pull off anything, if I do it because I ‘should’ I can be found dragging my feet halfway through something and not finishing it.

It was a collision of inspiration, and it started with noticing that people liked flowers and doors when I posted them on Instagram. It organically grew into something more profound for me.

There were young women around me at the time who I thought were fabulous, but I could see they often doubted themselves or had no idea how wonderful they were.

They reminded me of myself when I was young and so I started playing with the doors and flowers and then each picture took on a life of its own depending which girl was my model and what conversations or feelings came from the day. I wanted to create stories that would inspire women of all ages.

If covid gave me anything it was the gift of enjoying life more and at a slower pace. What is next for me is connecting more with nature and highlighting that we are part of this incredible natural ecosystem and not separate from it. And finding a way to connect people to this magic through creativity and story.

When you realise you are part of something so magical that it is beyond your wildest dreams. And that you create your own reality; then you no longer feel alone, frightened or worried about what is going to happen. You can get on with sharing your gifts with the world. This is what we need now, more people believing in their light and sharing it.

Favourite Flower? Grandma’s Garden roses.

Favourite Scent? Frederic Malle Carnal Flower.

Favourite Australian Place? Carcoar.

Wish List Travel Destination? Faraway places that tourism has not found yet.

On your book shelf? The Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer.

Fitness Rituals? Walking, Pilates and swimming wherever and whenever I can.

Fashion Style? Folk! Patterns, colours and embroidery.

Most proud of? Helping women to walk away from darkness and into their light.