Di Swain is one of the most productive and best known of Tilligerry Artists. A New Zealander, Di has lived in Australia since 1968 when she and her husband settled in Sydney. As a young mother she was busy for the first few years rearing two sons and a daughter but in 1979 took up her original career as a shorthand typist at the Baxter Health Centre where she remained for the next 21 years.
In 1987 her horizons began to expand and a relationship with an artist inspired her to begin painting in oils. While still at work she took a course in mosaics and using stained glass created a variety of objects which found a ready market among her work colleagues.
Her delicately nuanced watercolours of flowers, birds and native vegetation have won prizes in many local exhibitions from Newcastle to Shoal Bay and are eagerly sought by collectors as are her colourful oils with subjects ranging from monkeys to hens from her own backyard and evocative scenes from her visit to India.
Di loves to travel and has visited India, Vietnam, Morocco, Portugal and New Zealand. Since 2001 she goes to Bali every year to relax and recharge her batteries before returning to her busy lifestyle. Her close relationship with her three children was demonstrated seven years ago when she donated a kidney to her seriously ill son Paul.
Mosaics and pottery initially inspired Di’s creativity, many examples of which add to the character of her cosy home where her quirky humour and quick eye for the unusual are reflected in the eclectic decor.
In 2000 she retired from Sydney and moved to Tanilba Bay soon establishing herself as one of the leading lights of the local art scene, acting five years as Secretary of the growing Tilligerry Arts Group. Up to this time being largely self-taught Di attended a class given by well-known artist Cheril Cusack and further expanded her experience attending various workshops.
