In April, I'm exhibiting the original artwork from my new picture book, The Colt from Old Regret, written by Dianne Wolfer and published by NLA Publishing as part of Imprint 2025 – a storytelling event combining art, words and song at the Victorian Artists Society at 430 Albert Street, East Melbourne. Imprint opens on Wednesday April 16, and The Colt from Old Regret will be officially launched on Sunday April 27 at 2pm. Craig Smith and I will be talking about making picture books and everyone is welcome! I'm also running a Poetic Collage workshop at VAS on Thursday 24 April. You can book in here.

You may have heard the story of the man from Snowy River and his fearless ride through the mountains. This is Colt’s story, of nickering mares and a rearing stallion. How did Colt escape the man? What did Colt see, feel, smell as he charged through the bush?

Lauren Smith, Assistant Director, NLA Publications, National Library of Australia describes Wolfer’s writing in The Colt from Old Regret as ‘a beautiful, poetic response to “The Man from Snowy River” from the perspective of the colt that gets away. Dianne has honoured this Australian classic and built on it, which is mirrored in Erica’s paint and collage illustrations—both “remixes” in a kind of way, but ones that open up our history, our high country and our hearts.’

Endmatter includes the full text of Paterson’s poem, along with additional information on Paterson himself, brumbies and the Snowy Mountains, and bush poetry.