about
Vanessa is a photographer with over thirty years of history with her camera, graduating at RMIT in 1994, before moving to London to work in numerous studios. On her return to Australia, she moved to the Northern Rivers, where she cultivates her passion for connecting and supporting the many regional storytellers and theatre makers through her photographic essays.
She is also a self-portrait artist, resonating with the photographic tableau vivant, creating static, theatrical scenes, sometimes from art history, literature, or human lore, using costumes and props that often juxtapose her surrounds. Vanessa is currently working on her solo exhibition ‘You’ve come a long way, baby” which she hopes to mount in early 2027.
Vanessa is also a Performance Artist, Creative Producer and Disability Support Worker. First working with social arts theatre company, Public Act for 5 years, then as Production Assistant and Stage Manager with leading regional theatre company NORPA based in Lismore, and the newly formed Byron Theatre Company, and all the while working with disability inclusive Sprung Dance Theatre, in her role as Creative Support and Facilitator, where she recently produced their 10-year retrospective performance and gallery exhibition at the Lennox Cultural Centre. Her latest live solo performance, ‘Driving My Dead Dad’s Car’ was presented at the NORPA Makers Hub Spark & Grit Performance Night in 2023.
ARTIST CV:
PHOTOGRAPHER - ongoing NORPA, Sprung Dance Theatre, Golden Thusdays Dance, Byron Theatre Company, Drill Hll Theatre, Public Act Theatre.
FACILITATOR - ‘WEEKLY MOVEMENT MAKERS’ - Lismore - Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre – July 2020 – present. A not for profit, disability inclusive dance theatre company.
STAGE MANAGER/production design – ‘Dinner Party at the End of the World’ - NORPA - The Joinery, Lismore. November 2025. Inspired by the raw, powerful stories of the Lismore floods, the project is a multi-artform, multi-artist project reflecting stories of community and resilience, and contributing to a future original work born from the aftermath of a natural disaster.
PROPS&COSTUMES/production assistant – Creative Development ‘Dinner Party at the End of the World’ - NORPA - November 2025. Inspired by the raw, powerful stories of the Lismore floods, this future original work is born from the aftermath of a natural disaster.
CREATIVE SUPPORT/PRODUCTION - Sprung DIS-CO BALL - 2025, 2024, 2023 annual Disability Led Ball for the community.
STAGE MANAGER/costumes – ‘Displace I Call Home’ Byron Theatre - June/July 2025. Written and directed by Bianca Sirianni, debuting the new Byron Theatre Company.
STAGE MANAGER – ‘TROPICAL FRUITS TWISTED CABARET’ Lismore Show Grounds - Jan 1st 2025. Hosted by Betty Grumble, featuring 20 live acts.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/ ASM – ‘WILDSKIN’ Lismore Show Grounds - NORPA July - September 2024 Staged in a 60-metre warehouse space at Lismore Showgrounds, Wildskin transformed the space into an outrageous and unpredictable world that was part bush-thriller and part road-trip, furthering NORPA’s reputation for adventurous, unforgettable Australian theatre.
PERFORMER/DEVISOR – ‘DRIVING MY DEAD DADS CAR’ Lismore Spark n’ Grit Makers Hub - NORPA August 2023. A one woman show.
SHOW PRODUCER/DRAMATURG & GALLERY CURATOR – ‘REFLECTIONS’ Lennox Cultural Centre Sept 10th 2022. Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre’s 10 Year retrospective performance and archive gallery exhibition.
DISABILITY SUPPORT and PHOTOGRAPHER Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre – part time | July 2020 – present. A not for profit, disability inclusive dance theatre company, based in Ballina.
PHOTOGRAPHER (Dinner Party, Into the Forest, Era, The Underlibrary of Unofficial Histories, Love for One night Development) NORPA – Northern Rivers Performing Arts
BOX OFFICE NORPA – Northern Rivers Performing Arts | March 2021 – till floods.
WRITER/DEVISER/PERFORMER Jan 2021 – present Hyster(i)a - in development | End of 2020 – present (supported by NORPA)
Sprung!! DANCER SUPPORT - ‘Things Impossible’ Development – BALLINA/ LISMORE AUG-OCT 2020 Sprung!!
HAIR & MAKEUP ASSISTANT – ‘Things Impossible’ – NORPA LISMORE OCT 2020
PHOTOGRAPHER, THEATRE PRODUCTION, DESIGN & VISUAL COMMS MANAGER Public Act Theatre | March 2017 – April 2020. A social arts theatre company based in Byron Community Centre, with courses & live shows ranging from Empowering Women Through Theatre, Performance hART,Studio55 seniors &Mixed Abilities.
DIRECTOR/design/production/stage manager–‘Party in a Porta Loo’–HOT SHORTS Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby, NSW | October 2019
STAGE MANAGER/producer/photographer– ‘Worlds Wife’ – BYRON THEATRE & DRILL HALL Public Act Theatre | December 2019/January 2020
PRODUCTION Design/stage manager/photographer – ‘WATER BAR’ live art installation Most (Un)usual Kabaret – Lismore Workers Club | November 2019
PRODUCTION Design/performer/photographer – ‘The Conduits’ live art instillation Dark Science Festival – Lismore Quad | August 2019
PRODUCTION Design/performer/photographer – ‘The Conduits’ live art instillation Murwillumbah Arts Trail – Murwillumbah | May 2019
PHOTOGRAPHER – Men.S.Table – Men’s Performance Project Byron Theatre – Byron Bay | Dec 2018
PRODUCTION/photographer – La Pocha Nostra – Psycho-Magic Rituals Against Violence Byron Theatre – Byron Bay | Sept 2018
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/photographer - The Curious Card Company – Darkly Curious Botanical On Line Store - 2015 - 2018
PHOTOGRAPHER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER editorial – LONDON UK 2000 -2011
BA HONS Photography & Visual Communications - RMIT University, Melbourne 1991 - 1994 (high distinction)
AWARDS - 1994 - BAILLOT MEMORIAL TRUST AWARD , AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE of PRO PHOTOGRAPHERS (AIPP), RMIT GOLDEN KEY
