fashion designer jo turner

The fashion label Francis Leon was only launched in 2009 but already it has been picked up by Harvey Nicks and Liberty of London as well as Barneys in New York. It's part of the Francis Leon Studio, which is based in Brisbane. The label has two stores: one in its home town and the other in Melbourne. Meet owner and creative director Jo Turner.

Which five words best describe you? Argumentative, analytical, relaxed, agnostic, curious.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I think it's still starting...

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To pick one thing and do it really well - that way you can be on top of your game. Being a jack of all trades almost never works.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Landing international stockists for our Francis Leon label including Harvey Nichols and Liberty of London, and Barneys in New York.

What’s been your best decision? To narrow the brand's offering and focus. When we started out we did a bit of everything. Now we're a high-quality womenswear leather jacket brand with an effortless wearability and street/sports styling influence.

Who inspires you? My family and the people I work with.

What are you passionate about? People working hard and taking responsibility for themselves. Life isn't meant to be easy, and it would be boring if it was.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Albert Einstein

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Too many to mention, I hate missing out.

What are you reading? Super Freakonomics

images courtesy of francis leon

artist adam lester

Artist Adam Lester was born and raised in Melbourne but moved away from the southern city to pursue his practice. Initially he participated in group exhibitions in Greece and northern NSW before gaining a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2002 at Southern Cross University. He has continued to exhibit in group and solo shows, and is represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane and a guest artist with Michael Reid in Sydney. Adam has won the Bentley Art Prize, and has twice been highly commended in the Southern Cross Art Prize. He has also twice been included in the Churchie Emerging Art Prize exhibition.

Which five words best describe you? Curious, optimistic, happy, nostalgic and resourceful.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started by putting on my own exhibitions in artist-run spaces and then got representation with Jan Murphy Gallery. This led to other galleries giving me a go in other states.
What's the best lesson you‚ve learnt along the way? Momentum is your best friend.
What's your proudest career achievement? It hasn't happened yet, but I guess making a living from being an artist is good.
What's been your best decision? To travel a lot to feed my imagination and belly with new and interesting stuff.
Who inspires you? Self-starters, underdogs. Anyone who is compassionate and honest.
What are you passionate about? Art, food, music, surfing, my kids, tequila.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? The Dude.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To grow old disgracefully somewhere warm, near a great uncrowded surf spot.
What are you reading? Just kids by Patty Smith.

images courtesy of adam lester and portrait of adam lester in his studio, 2010: jan murphy gallery

architect stuart vokes

Among the many projects completed by Brisbane-based architecture firm Owen & Vokes is a contemporary prefab house called the White Series for Happy Haus. Since creating the firm in 2003, Stuart Vokes has overseen several furniture projects too, including this bedside library. But primarily the practice is known for its residential work. One home, pictured second from the top, was featured in the Christmas issue of InsideOut magazine. Stuart explained his approach to the interiors: "Walls are our ally. They allow us to manipulate particular and unique characters for each room. In relation to climatic control and comfort, solid walls are the cheapest technology and the most successful thermal and sound insulators." Interesting to consider in light of the current love of open-plan living.

Which five words best describe you? Searching for knowledge and beauty.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My father and grandfather both ran their own businesses. They taught me that work was life, work was virtuous, work was happiness. I suppose it was in my DNA that I establish my own practice.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be generous. One creates their own opportunities and happiness.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Having happy clients.

What’s been your best decision? Asking a cute shop girl on a date (she became my wife).

Who inspires you? My partners and colleagues - they bring a creative energy to the studio. I am also inspired by anyone who generates their own place to dwell, to exist in this world.

What are you passionate about? I am very passionate about my practice, which I share with Paul Owen and Aaron Peters.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Adolf Loos - late Viennese architect. I have learnt so much about room-making from studying his work.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To make a project in Sweden or Japan would be sweet!

What are you reading? I am re-reading Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows, and David Malouf's 12 Edmonstone Street. I find that there is always something more to be found, something that I missed in my favourite books.

images courtesy of owen and vokes

photographer toby scott

Toby Scott started his career in the corporate world but was itching to get back to his passion for photography, which was ignited when his dad bought him his first camera. Since then he has been shooting for real living and est magazines, and has opened a studio in Brisbane.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, honest, romantic, respectful and stubborn.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? When I was younger I was always interested in photography but I studied marketing. I spent a few years in corporate business and I found I was drawn to interiors, lifestyle and food photography. I loved it, so I basically threw myself in the deep end. I quit my office job, went travelling and then started studying photography. I read books and magazines and looked at what other great lifestyle photographers were creating. Since starting out I've discovered that collaborating with other people can only help cement your path. I think it's important that you allow yourself to wander away from your path to learn more and then come back with greater inspiration and goals.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be honest and stick to your guns.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Seeing my work in magazines is amazing and still very surreal. Establishing my own studio space is and has been a very large step and something I'm very proud of.
What’s been your best decision? Hiring my production manager, Lynda Evans. Realising you need help is big and sometimes hard to come to grips with. Once you start working as a team though it can only improve your relationships with work, life and clients.
Who inspires you? My father. He bought my first camera, he is my best mate and daily inspiration. He has always supported me and has taught me that even when things are not going your way it's best to look at the big picture and keep moving forward.
What are you passionate about? I think preserving our industry is extremely important and making sure that there is still a little something whimsical about photo-making. Making images that draw people in and set a mood is very important for me and my work.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? David Attenborough.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To have a client list that starts with Martha Stewart and ends with Vogue.
What are you reading? Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

images courtesy of toby scott

photographer + stylist kara rosenlund

Kara Rosenlund spent much of her 20s dedicated to photography. She was the youngest recipient of the Canon Australian Institute of Professional Photography "AIPP Photographer of the Year" award and from 2003 worked across advertising campaigns and magazine titles. Her photos were exhibited at the Sydney Opera House too. However, Kara decided to take a break and head to London where she swapped industries and worked in antiques. On returning to Brisbane in 2007, she combined her interests in styling, buying and photography with her Travelling Wares shop, in the caravan "Frankie", pictured above.

Which five words best describe you? Loyal, observant, grateful, ambitious, loving.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started my career at 20 after studying photography. I experienced a lot of success early on within the photographic industry, both locally and internationally with my exhibiting work. At the time I thought of myself as being extremely "lucky" to be receiving such accolades and recognition. In reality I was very dedicated to the work and I probably gave up a good half of my 20s to it. After working as an editorial and advertising photographer in Sydney, in 2006 I decided to have some time off and move back to Brisbane and then on to London. It was in London that I decided upon a different career path, that of an antiques buyer, which strangely lead me back to photography and styling when I returned to Australia a couple of years later to start my new business.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Gosh, there are so many of them. Probably that stressing actually doesn't get anything achieved, it just makes it more daunting in your head and you waste a lot of energy time - just get on with it.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Apart from having a photography exhibition at the Sydney Opera House it would have to be starting up Travelling Wares here in Brisbane, my travelling caravan old wares shop. It made me recognise my strengths and then bundle them all under the one umbrella - photography, styling and buyer - and turn them into a business. This has made me very proud and grateful that I now have created an avenue for myself to push my ambition and drive in to.

What’s been your best decision? Starting Travelling Wares. Being honest with myself and recognising that I needed to take a risk and create something of my own which allowed me to be creative. I realised that in order to move forward, sometimes you need to look back. As soon as I found my beloved 1956 "Frankie" and decided to pick up my camera again. Everything just fell in to place.

Who inspires you? My brand new husband Timothy O does; he has such clarity in every situation, which brings innovation and patience. I love his mind, and how he thinks. Also my father; I think about his hardworking approach to his humble business and it inspires me daily.

What are you passionate about? Our home life. It is such a privilege to be able to carve out how you choose to live and have the freedom to enable it to happen. To have a happy and safe place to nurture relationships, have animals and essential harbour love is very inspiring and something which I am very appreciative of.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? You know, I think I would have liked to have met Steve Irwin. I know that some people may disregard Steve Irwin, though it really is phenomenal what he achieved for the wider community and the level of awareness he was able to raise through his pure drive and appreciation for animals and conservation. I often think of him and how he truly must have believed that he could really change the world and what a desire that must of felt like.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would love to have a permanent shop. Even though I have an online shop and the caravan shop I still yearn for the solid bricks and to share the experience with people, and styling more cook books.

What are you reading? Oh dear. This is going to sound dreadful. I am not reading books, rather flipping through magazines - Gather Journal, World of Interiors, Kinfolk, Monocle, Vogue Living. Between juggling my business, our house renovations - which we do all ourselves - and spoiling our chickens, there is no spare time for proper book reading. I have tried to read, though have shamefully fallen into a slumber too many times. I'll get back to reading next year.

images courtesy of kara rosenlund

artist pip spiro

Emerging Brisbane illustrator and artist Pip Spiro is gaining a steady following in her home town. Her first exhibition at Black + Spiro last year was a sell-out, and she has since been working on commissions from Australia and overseas. After studying business and working in advertising, Pip took a leap of faith and decided to quit her job to focus on what she's always enjoyed the most - drawing. Since then she held her first show, and is working towards her next.

Which five words best describe you? Contradictory, aesthetic, detailed, impatient and vague.

What's the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don’t let perfect get in the way of better. At times I can become crippled with indecision however I’m learning that sometimes you just have to take that first step – any step – as once you’ve made a start, you’ve no choice but to make it work.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Growing up I was always torn - one foot in the arts and the other in more academic pursuits. I studied business management at university and worked in advertising agencies after my degree. However, I always knew that it wasn’t my ‘end game’ and longed for a more creative outlet. So in 2011 I took a leap of faith and quit my job with no forwarding plans – in hindsight very scary and quite silly! Luckily things have a way of panning out and four months later I had an exhibition of my work through Black and Spiro – which was fortunately a success. Selling out at the exhibition gave me the "permission" to really commit to my drawing and illustration; and since then my primary source of business is commission work for private customers across Australia and overseas.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Selling out my first exhibition was definitely a very fulfilling milestone and gave me the external validation to keep doing what I was doing; but being entirely self-taught and very green I still feel self-conscious labeling myself an artist. So I look forward to the day when I can put my hand on my heart and proudly declare myself an artist to the world.

What’s been your best decision? Quitting advertising - and going back to the roots of what has made me happy since I was a child, which is drawing.

Who inspires you? Beautiful things and older people inspire me. Real style, composure and wisdom only come with age and you will always learn something from a conversation with a person with years and life experience under their belt.

What are you passionate about? It sounds corny but I’m quite patriotic. We are so lucky to live in this amazing country and I think there’s no excuse not to embrace and look after it. Be energy conscious, support local industry and go to the beach – we have a responsibility to enjoy and preserve every square inch of it.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Charles Darwin. Evolution fascinates me.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Too many to list. Simply though, I want to grow my skills so that every drawing and painting is better than the last. To do this with the sand touching my toes most days would be pretty great, too.

What are you reading? About three different biographies, all a bit nondescript separately but interesting together.

images courtesy of pip spiro

photographer natalie mccomas

Natalie McComas is an up-and-coming Brisbane-based photographer who has been highly praised for her documentary work too. She was commissioned by the Museum of Sydney on behalf of the Historic Houses Trust to create a documentary called Tails of the city. Natalie has also been recognised in competitions such as the Moran Photographic Prize, The Leica/CCP Documentary Award and NOISE/Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards. Her photographic work has been published in the UK's Monocle magazine and Australia's delicious magazine. She's currently travelling around Europe documenting her journey via her blog.

Which five words best describe you? Quiet observer, perfectionist, water-baby.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My grandfather gave me his old, all manual Pentax film camera in high school. I spent hours taking pictures, guessing all the settings and loved the magic of the darkroom and seeing how they all turned out. Since I shot those first few rolls of film I have always felt being a photographer was the right path for me to follow. I’m so glad I never questioned myself and whether I could do it, I just went about making it happen. I moved from country NSW to Brisbane to study photography straight after school and in hindsight it was a big move; going from the cruisy, beach lifestyle to the city. But my entire world opened up - I was a sponge for everything photography and couldn’t get enough of it. In 2005 I graduated from Griffith University with my Bachelor in Photography and First Class Honours in Social Documentary Photography. Straight out of uni I worked part time jobs and did freelance work on the side. For a while I worked full time as the in-house photographer for a local magazine but it got to the point where I couldn’t keep working for other people and freelancing at the same time. I went out on my own and everything flowed from there. One job has always led to another and I’m always looking forward to what comes next.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? There are a few good lessons I’ve learnt in the last couple of years: there's nothing to lose in trying - just have a go! One of my favourite quotes is: "What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" - (Robert Schuller). The biggest lesson has been to balance my love of photography with everything else in life. I love photographing so much, it’s never felt like work – and therefore I have the tendency to take too much on!

What’s your proudest career achievement? That the majority of my work is from word of mouth.

What’s been your best decision? To follow my heart.

Who inspires you? There are so many people I draw inspiration from. Photographers: Mikkel Vang, Sara Remington, Derek Henderson, Dean Sewell, James Mollison, Jodi Bieber, Rineke Dijkstra, Narelle Autio, stylist Sibella Court, author Tim Winton and philosopher/writer Michael Leunig.

What are you passionate about? Documentary photography and films; seeing the way other people live and learning about them; the ocean, surfing, swimming, volunteer work, yoga, learning, growing, traveling, finding vintage treasures.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Hmm, it would be great to meet any of the above photographers who inspire me, but I am a bit of a David Attenborough fan. He would be so fascinating to talk to.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To travel and see as much as I can.

What are you reading? I'm halfway through Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and also My Heart Wanders by Pia Jane Bijkerk – I love books with pictures.

images courtesy of natalie mccomas

ARTIST + ARCHITECT SHANE WILLMETT

Although Shane Willmett studied to be an architect - and continues to practice in this field - his passion for form extends to applying Indian ink onto paper. Many of his artworks feature elements from nature - such as flora and fauna, insects and animals, and he has also created a series dedicated to architectural structures too. While Shane grew up near Cairns in Queensland, he has spent many years travelling for both enjoyment and study. Prior to returning to live in Brisbane, he completed his Masters of Architecture in Lund University, Sweden.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, persistent, honest, eclectic and impatient.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I don't think there was a defining moment; I have practiced my creative endeavors for as long as I can remember - it's been a process. I have continued to pursue and practice multiple disciplines as it is the greatest source of inspiration for me to bring back any knowledge gained from one and apply it in another.

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? I think the greatest lesson I have learnt so far is to not be afraid to ask for help even if it has been challenging for me and that commitment is the most direct way to achieve any goals. I still have a lot of lessons to learn and in how to apply them!

What's your proudest career achievement? So far, it would have to be that my first solo exhibition sold out earlier this year.

What's been your best decision? My best decision has had to be in choosing to use the India Ink my aunty gave me for a Christmas gift one year to draw/paint with because my writing/calligraphy with it was horrible. And still is.

Who inspires you? Too many to name. The people around me, my family, my partner, my aunty Ann and cousin Sophie Cape, and other figures like Dieter Rams, Norman Ackroyd, Tim Burton, Peter Zumthor, Matthew Bourne, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, John Pawson, Jonny Johansson, Lars Von Trier, Wes Anderson. So many more!

What are you passionate about? Creating.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? There are a few. Norman Ackroyd – an artist, a master of light, form, atmosphere and Space. Olafur Eliasson - an artist dealing with spatial phenomena and experience. Steve McQueen.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I don’t think my dream has changed since I was a child, it is to build my own house and fill it with works of every artist, designer, author and creative that I admire.

What are you reading? I am currently reading The hare with amber eyes by Edmund de Waal, a British ceramicist. It is a kind of memoir told through the journey of a collection of Japanese netsuke.

images courtesy of shane willmett