Fiona with Walkabout Wickets

In my painting "Fiona with Walkabout Wickets," I had the privilege of capturing the essence of Fiona Clarke, a creative, multi-talented Aboriginal artist. Our connection led to a conversation about collaborating on a portrait, and I was thrilled when Fiona agreed.
Inspired by Fiona's famous painting "Walkabout Wickets," we decided to incorporate it into the portrait as the focal point of my artwork, symbolizing Fiona's significant contribution to the art world.
In 2016, Fiona was chosen as the artist for the 150th Anniversary of the First Aboriginal Cricket Team, “Cricket Walkabout” who played on the MCG in 1866 and toured England in 1868, triumphing over the English at their own game. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Fiona is a descendant of two Aboriginal players from that historical time: James Couzens, her Great, Great Grandfather, and Jon Couzens, her Great, Great Uncle.
Fiona designed and created the artwork for this commemorative event, which holds great significance in Australian cricket history. Both the men's and women's national cricket teams proudly wear her artwork on their collars during important matches, such as the Ashes series in 2019. State teams across Australia also pay homage to their ancestors by wearing Fiona's artwork on their uniforms.
Through "Fiona with Walkabout Wickets," I aim to honour Fiona's artistic legacy and ancestral ties to the Aboriginal cricket team. This painting represents the past, present, and future of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal players, symbolizing unity and the rich cultural heritage that shapes Australian cricket.