Australian born artist Alison Jane Rice has been developing her art and writing practice since early childhood. She is an artist, illustrator, author and poet, and has been referred to as “an intuitive artist attuned to the natural world.”

An international Business for Peace nomination, WHO Healthy Cities Award for contributions to Youth Arts & Environment, and Masters in Creative Arts, confirm Alison’s commitment to her creative path. 

In 1977 the artist founded Auro-Ali, a unique mail-order incense enterprise which developed into a successful homewares & fashion import business Australia-wide. Alison traded with the Sri Aurobindo Trust in Pondicherry India. She created product labelling for her essential oil, incense and stationery ranges, and designed crochet footwear & boho evening bags. A percentage of profits assisted with village development, including the building of a well and small village school.

In Rajastan Alison designed and worked with co-operatives to produce chiffon blouses delicately embroidered with gemstones for high end stores in Sydney Australia.

After the business sold in the eighties Alison explored natural healing modalities, began flower psychometry consultations, and acquired certification as both a Reiki and Shell Essence practitioner. The artist felt her healing work enhanced her spiritual development as a Creative so re-focused her attention on her passion for the arts, commencing theatre training followed by university studies at the University of Wollongong.

During this decade Alison was invited by the Art Gallery of New South Wales curator of the Yiribana Gallery, Angela Martin, and the Art Gallery’s Director Edmund Capon, to create a multi-faceted art & dance performance piece in the Yiribana Gallery for school groups for Multicultural Week.
Her immersion into the research of Australian indigenous history and culture, as part of her studies at the University of Wollongong, humbled and inspired Alison to write and create prolifically.

In the nineties, Alison acquired more training in the film & television industries and began to freelance as a photo journalist. She reported on serious environmental issues and international music events, including Womadelaide and Dire Straits’ Australian tour.

The artist also freelanced as a Creative Writing tutor in the evening at independent education facilities, ran her ALIGHT program as an After School care program, and worked as a Communications Trainer for the NSW Government’s Greenleap program.

Working alongside horticulturalists on bush regeneration sites from Shelly Beach Manly to Currawong Reserve on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Alison held the responsibility of rehabilitating 15-21 year old disadvantaged youth. Through her innovative arts therapy approach she secured transformative outcomes, and employment, for all participants during her time involved in Greenleap.

Alison’s Collector Editions began with the international publication of her first book The ALIGHT Journal in 1999. A self development journal and program that secured the support of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and raised awareness of the healing power of art.

After spending time with children in Camperdown Children’s Hospital, Westmead, and Bear Cottage in Manly, Alison made the decision to launch The ALIGHT  Journal at The Children’s Hospital Westmead. The book launch was opened by Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett AM.

Alison donated all profits from The ALIGHT Journal to the hospital’s artist-in-residence program as her heart’s wish was to see art adorning the walls of hospices around the globe with patients being able to have access to art therapy whilst in convalescence.

Alison then went on to write and illustrate her whimsical artist editions namely The Legend of Prince Farty Barty & His Sacred Bum Bum Tree, Arty Barty’s Magic Paintbrush, and Birds Go Boho.

Collectible books which, along with her print and card ranges, Alison successfully launched through solo exhibitions and a long-standing association with the National Trust.

All books proved a popular investment for art and book lovers, young and old, and generated library & writer’s festival talks, Book Week appearances, ABC radio interviews, and artist workshops in schools throughout New South Wales.

The artist’s books were also chosen for the National Gallery of Victoria’s inaugural Artist Book Fair, and SCWBI’s (Society of Children’s Writers & Book Illustrators) showcase held in the Beverly Hills Hilton in LA in 2014.

More recently, the artist’s exclusive preview of her Imperial Flower Kingdom series for King Charles III (as part of the celebrations of his 50-year chairmanship of the Duchy of Cornwall Prince’s Council) resulted in the purchase, by the Duchy of Cornwall, of the first set of rare prints from Alison’s magical fae realm series.

The Royal Preview was one of a few special events in the UK where Alison was invited to preview and read excerpts from her Imperial Flower Kingdom series.

After a recent relocation of her studio, Alison has begun reinvigorating projects which she intends to nurture to fruition.

Thank you for entering the creative microcosm of artist Alison Jane Rice 🌷