Daniel Evans
Growing up in Coonabarabran, I was surrounded by strong community, culture, and a deep connection to Country. From a young age, I learned the importance of humility, resilience, and giving back, values passed down through family, Elders, and community, which continue to shape both my life and my creative practice.
My inspiration comes from my people, my culture, and the stories that connect us. Among my role models, Patty Mills stands out, not only for his achievements on the world stage, but for the way he uplifts and advocates for Indigenous communities while remaining humble and grounded. This balance of strength, pride, and humility is something I aim to reflect in my artwork.
My work centres on storytelling, identity, and connection. Through symbols, lines, and movement, each piece represents journeys, relationships, and shared experiences. Walkabout Warriors was born from this foundation, honouring resilience, spirit, and cultural continuity, and creating meaningful connections through art.
My collaboration with Struddys reflects our shared commitment to culture, community, and identity. Together, we celebrate heritage and create designs that honour the stories and connections that bring people together.
Harmony Waters
The centre reflects birth and beginnings, where family and community create the first gentle ripples. As the water moves outward, it shows youth and learning, when choices begin to affect others. The wider ripples symbolise adulthood, carrying responsibility and influence across community and Country. At the edges, calm, layered waters represent elders and wisdom, where knowledge returns to guide new life. The ripples remind us that every action travels outward, shaping others long after it begins.
Walking On Sacred Land
This artwork honours the spiritual presence of Indigenous ancestors within the land. Walking on sacred ground is a reminder that the land carries memory, guidance, and the paths laid by those who came before us.
It invites reflection, respect, and gratitude for the ancestors who continue to walk with us.
Warriors Return
The warriors leave on walkabout, following song lines written in earth and sky. They travel far, learning from distance, silence, and struggle. Like boomerangs, they are shaped to return. The journey bends them, teaches them, but never breaks their path home. When they come back, the land recognises them. Ancestors guide and but let them pace their own path for they are our future leaders. The warriors return not as they left, but closer to themselves, grounded and a knowing of their spirit.
Feeling through Country
I create from how I feel, and this painting is a reflection of what has been alive in me, a young Aboriginal boy wanting to be seen, heard, and loved.
From country to the coast, walking on country listening, feeling and the guidance of his ancestors leading him to the healing waters.
When we slow down, pause that's when the real magic happens.
Song Lines
Our stories travel through the land and sky, Carried in song lines since the beginning of time.
We hold their knowledge in dance and ceremony, In footsteps that follow old pathways. Drawn in earth, in ochre, in careful lines. Our artwork remembers what must never be lost.
Through story, song, dance and art, We carry our Ancestors. Past, present and future.
SEAN KINCHELA
I grew up in Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales, surrounded by family, culture and strong community. Growing up, I was heavily inspired by my uncles, Abie and Wok from the Indigenous hip hop group Local Knowledge, along with my other uncles Deekay Kinchela and Peps Walker, who guided me both culturally and artistically.
For me, art is a way to hold and share knowledge that has been passed down through family and generations. Being able to create artwork that carries those stories is a privilege, but it also comes with responsibility. Whether through painting, music, dance or education, I believe we all have a role to play in sharing knowledge and supporting our communities.
I’m incredibly proud of where I come from. My nan was part of the Stolen Generation and was disconnected from her family for many years. Being able to reconnect her with relatives and grow up with that connection to family has shaped who I am today. I’ve used the challenges I faced growing up as motivation to push myself and create opportunities through my art.
This collaboration with Struddys is a celebration of storytelling and sport coming together. It’s something I’m really proud to be part of, and I’m excited to see these designs worn across different garments carrying the Struddys logo. It’s a privilege to work with people who share the same passion for sport and supporting First Nations communities.
ARTWORK 1
This artwork represents dried up country, the cracked shapes represent the dirt and river banks that have dried up from drought. The artwork depicts camps, “ The circle symbols with the people (arched shapes) symbols” around the country side. The artwork can also represent not only inland, but coastal areas on low tide. With fish travelling along the riverside and a fishing net at the top of the design. There are also Kangaroo symbols along the artwork that represent kangaroos also residing in the area in a shared space. The Hand and Boomerang symbols on the artwork represent connection and belonging to the area.
ARTWORK 2
This artwork represents Dhinawan “Emu”. The Emu travelling country, laying its eggs during the winter season around all its different nations in Australia. The artwork depicts smaller and bigger Emu footprints travelling along side each other representing parent hood. The artwork also depicts emu eggs that are placed along country and hum footprints travelling along the artwork looking for them representing Emu egg laying season and the start of Winter. There are also camps in this artwork, the camps represent the people in the area and the connection between them and Dhinawan. First nations people would use the skies, and animals egg laying as a guide to navigate the seasons.
ARTWORK 3
This artwork represents Biggibilla “Echidna”. The Echidna is a special animal to most mobs around Australia. The Biggibilla is often only eaten by special people on special occasions. The artwork depicts Biggibilla eating ants on country. The artwork also depicts linework across the top connected by camps represent the peoples connection to country. There are also various people depicted along the middle of the artwork, Men, Women and Children. They are watching the Biggibilla, the Men and Women teaching the children about him. The carving linework patterns at the bottom of the artwork represent tree carvings, connection to country as well as border lines of country.