The Artist

I grew up alongside rainforest on the east coast of Australia and from an early age, I felt a deep connection with nature spirits (which I called ‘the fairies’). Reading myths, folktales and classics, such as Anne of Green Gables, was a favourite childhood pastime of mine ( and still is!). These tales inspired me to pen my own stories and I soon decided that I wanted to write and illustrate my own books. However, after a negative experience at age nine, I became convinced that I would never draw well. (Luckily, some years later, a fairy showed me I could, in fact, draw).

Later, I studied archaeology and traced myths and legends through the Andean landscape. My PhD examined the relationship between Inkan myth and the ceremonial landscape and I completed fieldwork in regions, including Ocros, Ancash and Cusco. I have also been fortunate to explore parts of Nepal, India, the Pacific and the United States.

While living in the Andes, my life was forever transformed. After experiencing adversity and loss, I had forgotten how to play and nurture my inner child. Instead, I got caught up in ‘busyness’ and became a full-time worry wart, who was working hard to be a ‘serious’ academic. As a result, I shelved my life-long vision of being an artist. As I traced ancient pathways in the Andes, I was reminded of how little and simple things, like a walk in nature, can feed my heart and spirit. Then, one day in Cusco, I met a maestro from the Q’ero lineage who read my coca leaves. During this sacred experience, he urged me to tap into my creativity, of which he saw I had in abundance. I returned home and started to listen to my body, which was begging me to slow down and deepen my connection with Mother Earth. As I followed this path, my creativity was reignited; I began to craft dolls and miniatures, write stories, draw and paint again. Around that time, I was also working with children and founded Ancient Explorer, which provides resources related to Natural History and Ancient History.

Little Worlds of Wonder was born in 2019. A gift from my beloved, Little Worlds was originally a dropshipping store devoted to miniatures and fairy gardening. Not long after I opened the store, COVID-19 struck. In the year that followed, I persevered in a changing retail environment. Meanwhile, at home I started to grow a garden, with the help of the fairies. While the dropshipping store didn’t survive, the venture helped me rediscover several keys to my own happiness, while also helping me to rewild my imagination.

Today, I am an independent artist and researcher. In my blog and vblog, I share some of my latest creations, book reviews, and explorations of fairytales from around the world. Meanwhile, you can find my stories on Patreon and Medium.

I believe we are all born creators. One important key to living an enchanted life is weaving curiosity, wonder and play into our ‘mundane’ world.

Many happy and magical blessings,

Lisa.