Susan Seipel PLY
Susan Seipel is a Paralympic medallist and three-time world champion in the sport of Para-canoe. Born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital (AMC), a disorder characterised by the fusion of joints and absent muscle formation in her legs. She had her 1st operation at only 4 weeks old, and was admitted to hospital 13 times before
the ag
e of 15.
Susan learnt to swim at the age of four as a form of physiotherapy and excelled at the sport. Susan held six Queensland State records between the ages of 13 and 15, and three Australian National age records in freestyle and backstroke. She also raced against her able-bodied classmates and was selected onto her high school
swimming team. While swimming fueled her competitive spirit, Susan’s real sporting passion was riding horses and competing in dressage. After learning to ride at the age of seven, she set herself a goal of becoming a Paralympic champion. In 2006, she made her international debut at the Pacific Rim Para-Equestrian Dressage International Competition in Canada, where she won bronze.
Facing the financial strains of competing in Para-equestrian, Susan found herself looking for another sport to channel her energy into. In 2012, Susan attended a Come and Try Kayaking Day and was inspired to take up Para-canoe and keep her Paralympic dream alive!
In 2014, Susan attended her first Para-canoe National Championships and won three of her races, with personal best times. She was then selected to represent Australia at the 2014 World Championships in Moscow, Russia where she won her heat, and placed 6th in the final. Determined to improve, Susan challenged herself to paddle both boats used in Para-canoe; the outrigger canoe and the kayak. Her hard work paid off at the 2015 World Championships in Italy where she won Bronze in the 200m kayak race and Gold in the 200m outrigger canoe race. She successfully defended her outrigger canoe World Champion title the following year at the 2016 World Championships in Germany, and secured another Bronze medal in the kayak event for Australia.
Susan proudly represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, where she won a Bronze medal in kayak and was the first Australian in history to win a medal in Para-canoe at the Paralympic Games.
Following her Paralympic debut and continued international success with another Gold medal in outrigger canoe at the 2017 World Championships, it was smooth ‘paddling’ towards selection for Tokyo until the global COVID-19 pandemic threatened to 'sink' years of hard work. Despite the unprecedented postponement, Susan persevered in the face of uncertainty and won a Silver medal in outrigger canoe at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Susan grew up loving animals and her pets included cats, rats, fish, birds, guinea pigs, and horses. She is extremely passionate about animal welfare so in 2018 she was the first Paralympian to become an ambassador for RSPCA QLD. She got involved with the animal welfare charity back in 2011, as a volunteer adoption counsellor and cat/kitten foster carer. After the opening of the Animal Care Campus in Brisbane she volunteered at the Wildlife Hospital, there she saw first-hand the incredible work that goes on behind the scenes to save the lives of all creatures great and small.
5% of all sales of 'We Heart Animals' is donated to the RSPCA.
Oliver Jepson
When Oliver was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour located at the base of his skill at age 6, his family didn't know what to expect. With his health in jeopardy, he found himself in a hospital bed with very little to do. The Jepsons were a very adventurous family who now find themselves frequently confined to the four walls of a hospital room.
Oliver didn't let his illness consume him though. Instead, during chemotherapy and long hospital stays, he turned to art as a way to express himself and cope with the endless traumatic experiences that cancer forced on his life. He spends hours creating beautiful pieces that put a smile on anyone's face. The bright colours are a stark contrast to his current situation.
Join us in supporting Oliver and his art. Together we can spread his profound message of hope and resilience.
@internalbattle_ | internalbattle.com.au
Bronwyn David
Bronwyn is a proud Palawa-Tebrakunna woman born and raised in Naarm. A self-taught contemporary artist who loves to explore and experiment different techniques, textures and mediums.
A great deal of Bronwyn’s artistic vision and inspiration comes from her connection to the land and waterways of our magical country. Her art style is constantly evolving as she learns more about herself and her culture and discovers her ancestor’s footprints in the landscape.
Incorporating her love of vibrant colours, geometric and organic lines, shapes and textures into her art, often creating chaos and spontaneous pieces that all come together in her own individual way.
@artbybronwyndavid | artbybronwyndavid.com.au
Antayjo Art (Ang Watson)
DESIGN STYLE- Quirky, Colourful, Maximalist, Detailed. Ang Watson is the Artist and Surface Designer behind Antayjo Art.
Ang loves to create traditional and digital artworks featuring -“ Fashiony, Patterny, Flowery & Portraity” themed subjects that are full of details.
Being an Overthinker, creative pursuits are the only time Angs brain is not in overdrive. Her works just flow, are instinctual and very busy. Quirky ladies, jig saw like patterns and fine lined flowers and faces make up a great deal of her portfolio, whether it be in the form of patterns, paintings, drawings or mixed media thread and fabric works.
Deb McNaughton
Deb McNaughton is an established Australian artist with a love for colour and a passion for making the world a brighter place through art. Her bubbly personality is reflected in the contemporary artwork she creates and leaves collectors feeling all the happy fuzzy feels.
Working with a variety of mediums, Deb’s style is described as spontaneous, diverse and fun. Her creativity comes from the heart and her colourful creations are widely recognised in both Australia and overseas.
Inspired by bright colour combinations, fashion trends and patterns found in nature, Deb’s work is sure to catch your attention and give you happy vibes.
@debmcnaughton | debmcnaughton.com
Brodie George
Brodie is a proud Walmajarri woman from Fitzroy Crossing in The Kimberley of Western Australia.
Her Aboriginal name is Jalayimiya pronounced "jul-a-mia" and her
Skin Name is Nakarra - all Walmajarri people belong to one of eight skin groups. Skin groups help people to know how they are related to each other.
Brodie spent her childhood surrounded by family, country and culture learning & using language and watching old people paint at Mangkatja Arts.
Being very artistic from a young age the artwork of her mob has influenced the creations of her designs - a very distinct bright desert style with a modern adaption.
Brodie paints her perception of the country she grew up on using bright colours often seen in The Kimberley region of northern Western Australia.
@brodiegeorge_jalayimiya | jalayimiyadesigns.com.au
Shandra Smith
Shandra is an award-winning Artist / Surface Designer living in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Her vibrant work offers a punch of colour to many kinds of surfaces and products in the art licensing industry.
Primarily self-taught, she uses photography-based, mixed media techniques to create unique “Beautifully Bold" shapes and colours for her art and designs.
@shandrasmithart | shandrasmith.com
