Inside the Surreal Paintings of Rachel South and their Deep Connection to Mental Health

Rachel South is an artist whose work is inspired by the beauty of nature and her personal journey. In this interview, she talks about how her art helps her process life’s challenges, like grief and fear, and how she hopes her pieces can comfort others. Rachel shares how she uses bright colours and surreal designs to explore themes like mental health, well-being, and our connection to the world around us. She also explains how her murals, like the ‘Sensory Pathways,’ blend art with education, making learning spaces more engaging for children. Through her art, Rachel invites viewers to reflect on themselves and the world and find hope, even in tough times.

Rachel grew up in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. At an early age, she developed a love for painting. Rachel completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Griffith University, Queensland College of Art. She has continued studies in Transpersonal Art Therapy. Consistently a recipient of a multitude of local and regional Art prizes. Her work continues to be collected and shown. Mural works can be found throughout homes, businesses, and local schools. The ‘Sensory Pathways’ murals for local schools provide vibrant educational learning spaces. Currently working from her studio on the Sunshine Coast, she continues this passion, exploring the abundance of the natural environment surrounding her.

During this formative time, she has begun to focus on our connection to the natural world and how we are interconnected. This develops into underlying themes of mental health and well-being and how we feed our human spirit. Rachel’s work is consistently colorful and bold and has been said to capture the ‘true essence’ of the subject. Throughout her artistic career, her works have explored many textural elements, such as fabric, embossing, print, and mixed mediums, more currently drawing back to elements of the printing process combined with canvas and acrylics. Surrealist compositions of nature and the human body create juxtaposed imagery that would not be seen in reality. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of imagination and connecting with people through her thought-provoking images.

1. How does your creative process, where “the paintbrush leads the way,” shape the stories you tell through your art?  

As much as I can plan out work, the work always guides the process and tells me what direction it needs to take. Trust in the process, although sometimes difficult, is the best way to create impactful thought-provoking pieces

I hope that my paintings evoke a feeling or emotion within, allowing us to look closer at our relationships with ourselves and the environment. Whilst bringing color and warmth to our lives.

Rachel South

2.   Your murals, like the ‘Sensory Pathways,’ bring learning spaces to life. How do you approach blending art with education?  

The driving force behind sensory pathways is the need for more interactive learning. Stepping outside the classroom is becoming a more useful way for teachers to teach. Children require different learning modalities. I work alongside the curriculum and with teachers to create something that connects everyone.

3.   How has your connection to the Sunshine Coast’s natural environment influenced your recent work and themes?  

As an artist, my daily life inspires how I work and what comes to life on the canvas. I am constantly surrounded by my local area’s beautiful flora and fauna, just asking to be created. Textures and surfaces, animals and creatures, are all becoming a constant theme in my work today.

4.   Your art explores mental health, well-being, and the human spirit. What personal experiences inspire these themes?  

Personally, the creation process has assisted me in processing many layers of grief and fear over the years. It has made me realize that we all try to understand our personal journeys. So, if my works can assist anyone going through difficult parts of their journey, I hope to bring some comfort through a visual representation.

My understanding of life’s journey develops through working with the visual. Their meanings become more purposeful through the creation process.

Rachel South

5. Surrealist compositions and bold colors are hallmarks of your style. How do they help you convey deeper messages?  

Symbolism helps create a deeper understanding of what a work tries to convey. I believe the creation process allows us to understand our world and gives us the freedom to create compositions that would never be actual reality. Brings to light the seen and unseen thoughts we encounter in our everyday environments.

6.  What do you hope viewers feel or take away when engaging with your thought-provoking, nature-inspired imagery?  

I hope people feel some connection to themselves and their surrounding environments. My main purpose in creating it is to give people some feeling of hope in moments of difficulty. Even if just a small visual sensory experience is received, my work has been successful.

Rachel South’s art is more than just a visual experience—it’s a way of connecting with ourselves, the world, and the deeper layers of our emotions. Whether through vibrant murals in educational spaces or deeply personal paintings, Rachel’s work offers a sense of hope, reflection, and healing. To learn more about Rachel, click the following links to visit her profile.

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