About the artist
Cindy has won many awards for her textile artwork, both in Australia and overseas. Cindy's work has been published in magazines in Australia, New Zealand and America. Her work hangs in private collections throughout Australia and internationally. The natural world is her inspiration, especially Tasmanian flora and fauna.
Cindy uses her sewing machine to create her artwork. She free-style stitches each piece to create unique and beautiful pieces. Silk and cotton are her preferred materials, which are often hand dyed by Cindy using leaves and bark found in the natural bush areas of Tasmania.
The 5000 Trees Project
Trees are an integral part of our world. They provide for us the air we breathe, the homes we live in, they create rain, provide food, shelter and nutrients for many forms of life, warm our homes, and they are a thing of beauty. Science has now proven they communicate, nurture, defend and support each other through their root systems. They have symbiotic relationships with fungi, birds, insects and animals. They are part of a very complex system, quite often hidden from the human eye.
The Tree of Life appears in many religions all over the world. Early civilisation understood their significance even without our science.
The 5000 trees project was inspired by the book "The Hidden Life of Trees" By Peter Wohlleben. Cindy has set herself a goal to stitch 5000 Trees, exploring the amazing and complex life of trees.
As part of this ambitious project, Cindy wanted to give back to the environment, so she chose to donate $2.00 to Landcare Tasmania for every tree she stitches and sells to help with their local environmental projects.
Cindy’s CV
Recent Exhibitions
2026
· Joint Exhibition The Long Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
· Solo Exhibition Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery, Tasmania
· Solo Exhibition Van Diemens Land Creamery, Elizabeth Town, Tasmania
2025
· Solo Exhibition Van Diemens Land Creamery, Elizabeth Town, Tasmania
· Solo Exhibition The Hive, Ulverstone, Tasmania
· Blessington Quilt / Embroidery Challenge Exhibition, Queensland, Australia
2023
· Expressions Wool Quilt Prize National Wool Museum Victoria, Australia
· Ozquilt Network Award of Excellence, Victoria, Australia.
· Solo Exhibition Van Diemen’s Land Creamery, Elizabeth Town, Tasmania
2022
· Solo Exhibition Wilderness Gallery Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
· Solo Exhibition Divine Objects Deloraine Tasman
2021
· Solo exhibition, The Tasmanian Wilderness Gallery, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
· Tasmanian Craft Fair
2020
· Solo Exhibition Crowded Lounge Latrobe, Tasmania
· Raven Group exhibition The Long Gallery Salamanca Hobart Tasmania Australia
2019
· Finalist The Pro Heart Outback Art Prize 2019 Broken Hill, Australia
· Tasmanian Craft Fair 2019 Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· Australian Quilt Convention Melbourne Best in Australia Touring Australia
2018
· Exhibition “The Hidden Life of Trees” Wilderness Gallery, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
· Island Quilts exhibition Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· Blessington Quilt Challenge, Queensland, Australia
· World Quilt Show – Touring USA
· Tasmanian Craft Fair, Deloraine Tasmania
2017
· Island Quilts exhibition – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· Blessington Quilt exhibition – Queensland, Australia
· World Quilt Show - Touring USA
· Tasmanian Craft Fair, Deloraine Tasmania
2016
· Elemental Artspace An Age to Grow Exhibition – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge Tradition with a twist - Australia, all States
· Tasmanian Craft Fair, Deloraine Tasmania
2015
· Rotary Quilt challenge - Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· Island Quilts exhibition – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge True Blue - Touring Australia, all States
· Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize - Hobart, Tasmania
· Canberra Quilt Exhibition – Canberra, ACT, Australia
2014
· Rotary Quilt challenge – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· Island Quilts exhibition – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge Ten touring - Touring all states of Australia
· Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2013
· Rotary Quilt challenge – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· Island Quilts exhibition – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge FREE - Touring Australia in all states
2012
· Material Girl - Touring Tasmania, Australia
· Island Quilts exhibition – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· Ap&Q and AQC What the world needs now – Touring all states of Australia
2011
· Australian Wool Museum – Geelong, Victoria, Australia
· New Zealand Hoffman challenge Touring New Zealand
· Island Quilts – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· Ap&Q and AQC The Seven Deadly Sins - Touring all states of Australia
2010
· Island Quilts Exhibition - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· AP&Q and AQC Remember Exhibition – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· Best of the Best Exhibition, Australian Quilt Convention – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
· Break O'Day Stitches Exhibition – Tasmania, Australia
· Celtic Art Award – Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
2009
· Quilting Arts - Touring USA
· Island Quilts Exhibition – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· AP&Q and AQC Fantasy Exhibition - Tour around Australia and New Zealand
· Celtic Art Award - Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
· Break O'Day Stitches Exhibition – Tasmania, Australia
2008
· Celtic Art Award – Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
Recent Awards
2025
· 3rd Place Blessington Quilt Challenge
2024
· Finalist in Blessington Quilt competition
· Finalist Blessington Embroidery challenge
2023
· Finalist Expressions Wool Quilt Prize National Wool Museum, Victoria, Australia
· Finalist Ozquilt Network Award of Excellence, Victoria, Australia.
2019
· National Best In Australia Finalist Australian Quilt Convention
· Finalist Pro Heart Outback Art Prize
2018
· 1st place Art Quilt Island Quilts Tasmania
· Best in Show, Grand Champion Quilt Island Quilts Tasmania
2017
· 2nd place Blessington Challenge – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
· Selected for World Quilt Show – Touring USA
2016
· AQC Challenge Finalist – Touring Australia
· Judges' Choice World Quilt Challenge. - Touring USA
2015
· 2nd prize Art Quilt Island Quilts – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· 1st prize Rotary Textile Challenge Tasmanian Craft Fair – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge Finalist – Touring Australia all states
· Finalist Tasmanian Art Quilt prize – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· 2nd Prize Art Quilt Canberra Quilt Exhibition – Canberra , ACT, Australia
2014
· Highly commended Rotary Textile Challenge – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· 1st prize Art Quilt Island Quilts - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· AQC Challenge Finalist – Touring Australia all states
· Finalist Tasmanian Art Quilt prize – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2013
· Highly commended Rotary Textile Challenge – Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
· 1st prize Art quilt Island quilt – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· 2nd people’s choice Island Quilts – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· Finalist AQC challenge – Touring Australia, all states
2012
· Finalist Material Girls – Tasmania, Australia
· 2nd Art quilt Island quilts – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· 3rd People's Choice Island Quilts – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· Finalist AP&Q AQC challenge: What the world needs now – Touring Australia, All states.
2011
· 1st prize pictorial quilt Island Quilts 2011 – Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· Finalist Wool Museum of Australia – Geelong, Victoria, Australia
· Finalist AP&Q and AQC Remember Exhibition – Australia touring all states
· 1st Contemporary New Zealand Hoffman Challenge – New Zealand
2010
· 1st Prize Art Quilt Professional Island Quilts Exhibition – Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
· 1st Prize Best Domestic Machine Quilting Island Quilts Exhibition – Launceston, Tas, Aus
· 2nd Prize Pictorial Quilt Professional Island Quilts Exhibition – Launceston, Tas, Australia
· 2nd Prize Small Quilt Professional Island Quilts Exhibition – Launceston, Tas, Australia
· 1st Prize Celtic Art Award, Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
· Finalist AP&Q and AQC Remember Exhibition – Australia Touring all states
· 1st Prize Art Quilt Break O'Day Stitches Exhibition – Tasmania, Australia
· Selected for Quilting Arts Inner Animal Exhibition - USA
2009
· 1st Prize Small Quilt Professional Island quilts - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
· People's Choice Award, Celtic Art Awards – Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
· 1st Prize Non Traditional Quilt Break O'Day Stitches Exhibition – Tasmania, Australia
2008
· Highly Commended Celtic Art Award – Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
Education
Diploma of Art, Craft and Design, TAFE Tas
Galleries
Arrthouse Gallery, Evendale ( 2025-Current)
Divine Objects 1 Emu Bay Road, Deloraine, Tas (2021- Current)
Artifakt Gallery, Swansea, Tasmania (2020- Current)
Burnie Regional Art Gallery (2020-2021)
Under The Oak 2/39 Reibey Street. Ulverstone TAS 7315 (2021-2023)
The Crowded Lounge 129 Gilbert Street Latrobe (2020-2021)
Gallery Pejean 57 George St, Launceston 7250 Tasmania, Australia (2018 - 2023)
Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery (2017- 2022)
Brush Rabbit Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine (2017- 2024)
Penguin Creek Gallery 36-42 Main Rd, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia (2019-2020)
Elemental Artspace 20 Emu Bay Road (2012 – 2018)
1842 Corner St John and Cimitiere Streets Launceston, Tasmania (2011 - 2018)
Axeman's hall of fame, Bells Parade, Latrobe (2010 - 2014)
Galendor Art Main Road, Sheffield (2010 - 2014)
Round the Bend Art Shed 6 West Barrack Street Deloraine (2010 - 2012)
Publications
Quilter's Companion Dec 2025
North Coast Post May 2025
Textile Fibre Forum Dec 2023
Quilting Arts Magazine Spring 2021
Handwerken Netherlands Dec 2019
Quilters Companion vol 18 no 1 2019
ABC Northern Tasmania Facebook Podcast documentary 2019
New Zealand Quilter Issue 76 2011
Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol19 no 10 2011
Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol19 no 6 2011
Quilting Arts Magazine Inter Weave Press USA Issue 45 June/July 2010
Down Under Quilts Creative Living Magazine Issue 139 Dec 2009
Teaching
Quilt Symposium, New Zealand 2026
The Hive Ulverston, Tasmania, Australia
Geelong Fibre Forum, Geelong, Australia 2025
Textile Collective Urunga, Australia 2025
Grampian Textures, Halls Gap, Australia, 2024, 2025
Private and group classes are ongoing and current
Grampian Textures, Halls Ga,p Australia 2020
Needlecraft Cruises 2015
National Folk Festival Canberra April 2012, 2013
Australian Sewing Guild 2011 National Convention
Past Professional Affiliations
Tasmanian Quilt guild
Arts Deloraine
Tasmanian Craft Fair (The Rotary Club Of Deloraine)
The Textile Artist
Judging
Tasmanian Quilt Exhibition 2016
Deloraine Show 2016
Cindy Watkins
The Textile Artist
1 Emu Bay Road
Deloraine Tas 7304
Phone 0437057417
Email cindy@divineobjects.com.au
Facebook www.facebook.com/thetextileartist
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