Melbourne artist Clare Dunstan loves to dream up artworks which come to life with watercolour paints, polymer, acrylic paints, textiles, and found objects.

Clare’s love of animals is apparent in all her work, and even more so when you visit her home studio, which is also the home of numerous furry and feathered friends.

Growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Montmorency, Clare was inspired by her parents’ pursuits in music and visual art and would spent endless hours “making things” on the coffee table while enjoying 1940’s and 50’s movies.

Now living in the leafy suburb of Research, Clare works from her idyllic home studio with her kids, husband, chooks, dogs, guinea-pigs and rabbit! Clare’s family, and menagerie of pets, are instrumental in fostering and inspiring her love of visual arts, and her general passion for animals.

Clare completed an Advanced Diploma of Jewellery Engineering and Product Design and worked in retail management and visual merchandising before starting her own business, Tog & Pini.

Over the past 10 years, Clare has been heavily involved in the local arts community, and has been part of many local exhibitions - both group, and solo. She has taken on roles organising and curating for many of these exhibitions and arts markets. Clare sat on a panel for an International Women’s Day event, and was involved in the Nillumbik COVID Arts Initiative in 2022. Clare is frequently involved at Montsalvat, both exhibiting, running workshops and volunteering.

Career Highlights Include:

• Finalist in the WILD Etsy competition which resulted in developing a product range for Melbourne Museum.

• Receiving the people’s choice award for the sculpture, ‘Incognito,’ exhibited with Thou Art Mum at Montsalvat.

• ‘In Miniature,’ Solo exhibition at Montsalvat in 2021 (especially considering it’s timing in between COVID Lockdowns).

• In 2023 Clare illustrated her first picture book ‘Michael the Volcano Engineer’ written by Emma Ring.

• 2024 saw the foundation of Daybreak Artists, a group of Christian artists bringing their work and influences to the public through exhibitions and workshops. This group is very dear to Clare’s heart, and we can’t wait to see where it goes! Follow at @daybreakartists on Facebook and Instagram.