Dunsborough artist Heidi Mullender started out her career as an early childhood teacher, now she is teaching art workshops after discovering she had a passion for painting.
Ms Mullender is one of the region's artists who will feature her work at Happs Winery during this year's Margaret River Open Studios event.
The self-confessed art lover only turned her passion for drawing into a budding career after she was given lessons from a friend she did not realise could paint.
Ms Mullender was a full time early childhood teacher for 13 years when she heard her mum's friend had trained under another artist who was part of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.
"I just asked her if she could show me what she knew, I went to her and had six lessons and got the bug. She showed me how to see the world in a completely different way."
"It was awesome and really challenging because I am a perfectionist by nature, it really challenged me to loosen up and just appreciate God's creations that I see.
"I want to reflect that beauty in my art, light is what attracts me the most."
After taking up painting as a hobby, Ms Mullender found she really enjoyed painting and that people appreciated her work.
"Art is my release it is my chance to be creative, it is so good for the brain, I find it is my therapy and they say it is a form of mindfulness to be able to do something without thinking about anything else.
"For me, that is what art is."
Since moving to Dunsborough, Ms Mullender did not have plans to pursue art but after a chance visit to Happs Winery she had her art on display and was asked to host workshops.
"I love teaching other people, I am very passionate about making people realise they too can do it and that you do not need to be able to draw," she said.
"Anyone can paint, it is just about light, dark, tone, and noticing shapes. In all my workshops people paint upside down which they find quite quirky until the end."
Margaret River Open Studios will run from April 27 until May 12 for details visit mrropenstudios.com.au/.
