( The thumbnail images of the work link to larger versions )

John began painting collaboratively with indigenous artist Doris Gibson in early 2000. They were inspired to collaborate on a joint painting to enter in the Annual Heritage Art Awards, 2000. This is a National Indigenous Art Competition in Australia that features works from the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists in Australia.

In addition to the usual categories, the Heritage Commission opened the Reconciliation Award. The criteria were for an indigenous and non- indigenous Artist to work together on a painting.

As they worked together they found the marriage of John’s photo-realism and Dorrie’s sand & ochre designs worked well, and soon had a whole collection to choose from. The painting they entered was "Seaside Food Chain" (picture on the right) It was one of the paintings on display during the exhibit of the awards at Old Parliament House. This painting is currently touring Australia with 24 other selected works from the competition. More examples of John and Doris' collaborative work appear below.

Doris Gibson is part of the Kuku-Yalangi tribe who still live in the Mossman Daintree area of Australia where the rainforest meets the ocean.

Dorrie still fluently speaks her native tongue, Kuku-buma. She was taught the traditional designs by her elders and remembers instructions about her culture, many of the Dreamtime stories handed down to her are depicted in her artwork. Dorrie paints in sand and ochre.