About Corina

I’m a self-taught Australian artist and mental health advocate.

My art practice is a mix of realism, abstraction, and emotion - I work with everything from coloured pencils and encaustic wax, to oils and handmade pigments & inks.

I love exploring different materials and techniques, especially ones rooted in tradition or culture, because they carry stories and meaning that go deeper than words.

A woman with curly red hair smiling and holding a paintbrush in front of her painting of a woman with curly hair and a red top.

Creativity has always been a way for me to process, connect, and heal - and now I use it to help others do the same.

Whether I’m painting, teaching, or simply sharing space with someone, my hope is to create moments of calm, reflection, and real connection.

Finding Art

A woman with long, curly blond hair stands by a river in a park, holding a notebook and pen, looking up at the sky with sunlight illuminating her face, surrounded by trees and natural scenery.

In 2013, I found art during one of the darkest chapters of my life. At the time, I was facing serious physical illness and living with debilitating depression, anxiety & PTSD. I went through 11 rounds of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and spent extended time in an acute mental health unit.

A painting displayed on an easel features a woman with dark, curly hair, and her eyes closed, wearing a red top. Other artwork is visible in the background.
A woman with curly red hair stands next to a man with glasses and a beard, who is sitting at a table and painting. Two other women are seated at the same table. They are inside a bright room with a doorway leading outside to a garden.

When I came out of hospital, I was still fragile - emotionally and physically.

That’s when I discovered a local Mental Health Art Group. It was the first time I’d been given space to create without pressure, and it changed everything.

Three women standing outdoors near a river, engaged in conversation and taking notes on notepads, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

I realised I wasn’t just surviving - I was reconnecting with something inside me that had been buried.

Art became a lifeline. A way to get out of my own head. A way to feel proud, expressive, and whole again. Art gave me hope. 

Discovering Purpose

When that original art group lost funding and shut down, it felt devastating - not just for me, but for so many who relied on it. But instead of letting it go, we turned pain into purpose.

Three people standing outdoors during an award ceremony, with a woman in the middle holding a plaque, a man on the right holding a framed certificate, and an older man on the left dressed in historical costume. There's a red and gold backdrop behind them.
People enjoying a day by a pond in a park, some fishing and others sitting on chairs or talking.

Together, we formed a volunteer-run, not-for-profit art organisation called the Demented Artists Group Inc. (DAGS) - a creative community for people in recovery from mental illness.

I was the group’s president and driving force in our aim to ‘break the stigma of mental health’ for over a decade, for which I was honoured to receive Warwick Citizen of the Year Award in 2022.

Why I Do This Work Now

With ten years’ experience running mental health programs and my own lived experience, I know how hard it is to ask for help - and how healing it can be to simply make something with your hands.

An older woman with curly gray hair, glasses, and a pink checkered shirt is writing in a notebook outdoors. Behind her, a woman with curly red hair and another person wearing a hat are visible.

As a mental health advocate, I’m here to offer a safe, welcoming space for people to explore creativity as a tool for recovery.

Whether it’s in a workshop or through a piece of art made just for you, I believe everyone deserves the chance to feel seen, supported, and inspired again.

A smiling woman stands in an art studio holding a bunch of paintbrushes. There are paintings behind her, including a woman with curly hair on a canvas easel and an animal portrait on a red table. Art supplies and notebooks are on the table in front of her.

Contact

Art Workshops

If you’re curious about joining a workshop - whether for yourself, a loved one, or someone you support through the NDIS - I’d love to hear from you.

These sessions are all about gentle creativity, connection, and making space to breathe. Feel free to reach out with any questions, accessibility needs, or to see if a spot is right for you.

Art Commissions

Looking to commission a piece of art that holds meaning?

I create custom works that reflect special places, people, and memories. Whether it’s a gift, a keepsake, or something just for you, I’ll work closely with you to bring your story to life.

Get in touch and we can talk through the possibilities.

Testimonials

  • "Corina does considerable research and practice in preparation for all her classes, her demonstrations/instructions are always very clear. She has the great ability to “pass on” her extensive knowledge, a talent not all tutors possess.

    I have had the privilege to be tutored by Corina, when she conducted a series of workshops over two terms for primarily novices and a few basic level students, all of senior years. We covered both basic and advanced techniques in a variety of mediums.  

    Corina does considerable research and practice in preparation for all her classes, her demonstrations/instructions are always very clear. She has the great ability to “pass on” her extensive knowledge, a talent not all tutors possess. Corina diligently monitors her pupils and exhibits great patience and encouragement to those who may find an exercise difficult.  

    I wish her well both in the further growth her own art practice and as a tutor.”

    Barbara Bokenham

  • "Personally, knowing the benefits of art and the impact it plays on a person’s mental health, it has become Corina’s goal to educate people on these benefits and how art can save your life.

    Art for Corina is something that has defined her life and it is something that she is passionate about sharing with others. Personally, knowing the benefits of art and the impact it plays on a person’s mental health, it has become Corina’s goal to educate people on these benefits and how art can save your life.

    Another area that Corina is passionate about is teaching people new art skills. Corina is constantly exploring new mediums and methods in her own practice, and it is something that she also wants to share with her social media followers and students.

    Seeing the joy and emotion that her pieces bring to her followers, and the desire for her students to excel and come alive in their own practice is something that inspires Corina a lot.“

    Jodie Blakey

  • “Corina is an incredible Artist, teacher and mentor, among the very best.

    She is extremely patient with all students, including those with mental health concerns. Having been a student of hers for many years, I am forever amazed by the extent of her expertise and talent.“

    Cheri Bate

  • "Corina is a great teacher - empathetic, understanding & supportive. Due to her encouragement, I found a new hobby at this later stage of my life & I am so grateful."

    Maria Be

  • "Corina Graham is a talented and intuitive artist whose work in painting and mixed media is both expressive and deeply thoughtful.

    As a friend and mentee, I’ve watched her grow with courage, curiosity, and a dedication to her craft that’s truly inspiring.

    Her art has a quiet strength — it invites connection, reflection, and emotion in every piece.”

    Michelle Forsythe 

  • "I'd really like to share is just how much of a blessing this beautiful lady is to the people that come into her life.

    I sat down with this pen to paper planning to share with you all of the wonderful work this beautiful lady has done with the Demented Artist Group in Warwick Qld, a group that she founded to support those who are in recovery from mental health, and she very much has. There has been many fantastic graduates in the time that I was with them.

    However what I'd really like to share is just how much of a blessing this beautiful lady is to the people that come into her life. During my time with the group I was able to grow from a shaking & timid mouse into a happy member of the group and even served as secretary for a few years.

    But the biggest part of this story is that it was during this time that I went through the darkest moments of my life and I am truly thankful for this wonderful blessing that Corina is.

    She saved my life during that time & I can honestly say that I don't know where I'd be now if she wasn't there. I'm so very blessed now not just for that support but to be able to say that she is one of my closest friends.

    I know that this is just one of very many testimonials that this beautiful lady has to share. Thank you so very much Corina for the blessing that you are.

    Heidi Dakin