Meet  The Team

Holiday Program

Retired Primary Art teacher and Zart Art Consultant, have loved everything Arty since I could draw with a pencil, sew with my Mum, build with my Dad and craft with my Nan. Especially love encouraging children to express themselves and their world through Art. Passionate textile artist …fabric dyeing, eco dyeing, rust dyeing, anything you can do with material!

Find Shelley on Instagram

kidsart__dandylionstudio

Clay Hand building

Emma is an accomplished artist and educator with degrees in Fine Art/Interior Design and Education. She specialises in teaching ceramics, printmaking and mixed media. Emma has recently moved to the region to teach Art in Secondary School. Emma brings to Dandy Lion her own diverse art practice, curation, visual merchandising and event organisation to teaching. She is committed to a growth mindset and views art as both therapy and an expressive outlet, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment for her students.

Flourish in Watercolour: Botanicals & Frida-Inspired Florals - 8 Week Course

I come from a creative family, art in some form has always been a part of my life. I did evening pottery classes in primary school with my sister, sewing, cake decorating, pencil drawing and metal work. I was introduced to acrylic decorative painting and folk art in my 20’s. I started selling at markets and teaching, I then joined a co-operative where I sold and taught folk art.

Find Kristen on Instagram

kristen_dandylionstudio

Oil Painting with Creativity and confidence

Slow Stitching

Raylene is probably known mainly as a local Dance Teacher but …

Raylene is an experienced textile art teacher and is highly regarded in the world of Textile Art. She brings a wealth of knowledge and techniques to her classroom.

She encourages creativity and projects unique to her students, teaching step by step so as not to overwhelm.

Find Raylene on Instagram Raylene_dandylionstudio

Graphite Drawing TERM3

My name is Caitlin, I have had my own art business since the start of 2021, when I moved from Melbourne to Swan Hill.

I have found my niche with coloured pencil illustrations of people’s pets, however, have recently been learning how to oil paint for fun and for a new challenge.

When I’m not drawing, I love to travel in my van, go running with my dog Scout and be outside as much as possible.

Through learning new art styles, I have found that drawing is the foundation for almost every other medium. Many painters take a year to learn how to draw before they even pick up a paintbrush. By learning how to draw, you will be setting yourself up for success for many other art styles in the future. It is also a skill that can not be unlearned. It takes lots of practise, but once you learn how to draw it is a skill you can keep developing on (& get good quite fast if you put the work in!) Once you learn some basic fundamentals, you can draw anything! It is a very rewarding medium, I hope you will love it as much as I do!

Art Explorers TERM3

Originally from London, Gaby made the move to Australia in 2018, first calling Melbourne home before love led her to the quieter rhythms of Swan Hill. With a lifelong love for art, she holds a BTEC Diploma in Art & Design and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art, where she explored a range of multimedia practices.

Her passion for creativity naturally extended into teaching during university, where she helped run kids’ art birthday parties and after-school programs. Now living on a farm with her partner and six children, Gaby balances her vibrant family life with her deep appreciation for both food and art.

Swan Hill has given her a fresh perspective and a more grounded pace of life—and she's now working toward her dream of becoming a primary school art teacher by pursuing a Master of Teaching. Gaby brings warmth, creativity, and lived experience to everything she does, and we’re thrilled to have her as part of The Dandy Lion Studio family.