Meet Sharla Brown:
The Cairns Mum Painting Culture Between Nap Times

Ever wondered what happens when a toddler's bedroom makeover sparks an artistic awakening? Just ask Sharla Brown, BW Tribal's newest artist who's turning quiet mornings into celebrations of her Indigenous culture.

Sea Beauty by Sharla Brown

From Cairns with Colour

Based in tropical Cairns, Sharla brings serious cultural credentials to her canvas. Her dad's Eastern and Western Kuku Yalanji heritage meets her mum's Gkuthaarn, Teppathiggi, Ganggalida and Tagalaka roots – that's a whole lot of Far North Queensland connection flowing through every brushstroke.

The Toddler Who Started It All

Sharla's artistic journey kicked off with a simple bedroom painting project for her little one. One kids' room makeover later, and suddenly she's squeezing in painting sessions during naptime and the precious pre-dawn hours when the house is quiet.

Who knew toddler interior design could be such a game-changer?

Stories That Pop Off the Canvas

Sharla's contemporary style is all about bold acrylics and colours that jump out at you. She paints native flora and fauna, but these aren't your average nature scenes. Each piece weaves in family yarns, personal moments and cultural identity.

Take "Watching Over Us" – featuring a kookaburra that represents her late grandmother's totem. She painted it right after her nan passed and her youngest was born.

'Watching Over' Us by Sharla Brown. 2025

Coffee, Bikkies and Global Connections

Self-taught and powered by caffeine and biscuits, Sharla's already got collectors from Canada to the US snapping up her work. Not bad for someone who started painting when most of us were binge-watching lockdown TV.

Her mission? Dead simple – spread joy through art, one colourful canvas at a time.

Ready to Bring Sharla's Art Home?

Fancy adding some of Sharla's Far North Queensland magic to your space? Check out her collection at BW Tribal and find the piece that speaks to you. Because supporting Indigenous artists isn't just about decorating your walls – it's about keeping culture alive, one stunning artwork at a time.

Shop Sharla Brown's collection now at BW Tribal