I was an imaginative child. Drawing helped me visualise the characters and worlds from my mind, so I could share them with my friends and tell stories together.

In my early 20s I started to realise that art was my life. I drew larger and more detailed pieces, becoming obsessed with black and white realism, until I picked up a brush and saw my art in colour. I worked in large formats to build my confidence in painting, aspiring to develop the same finesse with my brush as I had done with my pencil.

My latest series feels like a next step in my artistic journey, as I strive to go beyond ‘replicating’. In my new food portrait series, I search for the simple beauty in the natural fruits and vegetables we eat. I do this by highlighting their colours, unique forms and personalities.

I’m pushing myself further in my new pieces, bringing together all the skills I’ve developed over the past decade. ‘George’s 5th Birthday’ is one version of this. I’m finding joy in returning to the playful imagination I had as a child; to bring back the expression of my inner world.

For me, art should delight. It should be beautiful. When I am captivated by others’ art, it draws me in and holds me in its story. I strive to do the same with my work.

I hope you enjoy browsing my work. Please email me at hello@shengyilee.com with any questions or commission requests. You can also find me at art markets across Melbourne.

I was Image Science’s featured artist in October 2023, and you can read the interview here.