THEY say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and this week we celebrate the incredible artistic talents of mother/daughter duo Charmaine Davis and Chenaya Bancroft-Davis.
Charmaine is a proud Gumbaynggir and Bundjalung artist – formerly from Grafton, she is now based in Ipswich and calls the city “home”.
Her practice is deeply rooted in culture, country, family and identity, drawing inspiration from the landscapes and waterways that shape this beautiful land. Through her paintings, Charmaine celebrates the enduring connection between people, place and story.
Charmaine sees her works as visual gateways, inviting the viewer to connect with culture, memory and a shared sense of belonging.
Creativity has always played a part of who she is, and she regularly reflects on the words, “It’s in my blood to create”.
A self-taught artist, Charmaine’s artistic journey began at home, inspired by her mother, who nurtured and encouraged her artistic spirit from an early age. Her mother’s influence helped shape the passion for art that continues to guide Charmaine today.
Charmaine has had many artistic career highlights, with one of the most recent being announced the winner of the 2025 Qld Regional Art Awards Flying Arts First Nations Award.
Another defining highlight of her career was undertaking a two-month artist residency in Austria. Living and creating beside the magnificent Danube River was a transformative experience.
If interested in knowing more of Charmaine’s artistic journey, visit charmainedavis.website.com/visualartist.
For Chenaya, the creativity was there from an early age, with her mother being her greatest influence.
As a descendant of Bundajalung and Gumbaynggir, Chenaya is a proud First Nations artist.
Instead of the written or spoken word, early on she used printmaking to depict and spark an interest in Australia’s First Nations people.
She was first introduced to printmaking in high school, which wasn’t a medium she initially connected with. It wasn’t until she began studying a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at the Queensland College at Griffith University, that she rediscovered printmaking and was drawn to its possibilities.
Her artistic journey has been one of continuous learning and growth. While her early inspirations came from family and community, her practice has developed into a way of expressing her connection to country and exploring her identity through art.
Each piece builds on the last, reflecting new experiences while remaining grounded in the landscapes and waterways that have always inspired her.
Highlights of Chenaya’s career include being the 2016 winner of the Ipswich Art Awards Theme Prize, along with joint adventures with her mother.
For more on Chenaya’s artistic journey, visit chenayabancroft.da.wixsite.com/naya-leigh-design.
