Since becoming mother to twin seven year old boys, Oliver and Darcy, Sherring has taken a very practical approach to her work.

Rather than making art off limits to the children she has made the art childproof. She coats works in resin, which allows them to be touched and interacted with.

“It’s all hands on. I want the work to be tactile,” she said. “You can touch it. They [children] want to touch it. It’s inviting and I would encourage people to do so.”

A recent work, Packet of Sea Monkeys, is based on the first time her sons went out on a boat.

“We were in Forster and we snorkelling and this the underwater world,” Sherring said. “We took the tinnie around to all these little islands and were looking at the oyster catches and different birds.”

Her sons are depicted in the work, which itself has a loose and childlike quality. In fact, Sherring often takes inspiration from her own work the artworks of her sons. 

“I have always taken inspiration from children’s work,” Sherring said. “And drawing and painting with the kids every night … that breaking down and simplicity of how they draw, it’s really inspiring. 

“It comes straight from the way see things, simple mark making.

“You get that sensitivity and love of nature seen through their eyes.”

The looseness of children’s work is something Sherring has always striven for. 

“Trying to unlearn the stuff you have learnt. I waiver between getting technical and going really free,” Sherring said.

“I am always in this meandering state between the two.”

Sherring has also based works on drawings her sons and nephews have made. 

“I have plagiarised the crap out of it,” Sherring said. “My nephew did a beautiful tiger picture when he was about seven and I said, ‘can I please have it?’ and he wouldn’t give it to me.

“So I thought, I will paint my own version.” 

Often she titles work based on the things her say.

“I try to write down all their little comments and that has been directing a lot of stuff,” Sherring said. 

Much of the work Sherring is currently producing is based on shared experiences with her children. 

Nexus is an exhibition of works from artists who have been connected with the Newcastle Grammar School. The show will open on June 22, between 6.30-8.30pm at Newcastle Grammar School.