Emily Hastie (Class of 2009) has a burning passion for the arts, quite literally.

Emily is one of the founders of Burleigh’s Mint Art House, a co-working studio and gallery which is home to a collective of 15 artists that work across a variety of mediums.“

This 24-hour house is about coming together as creatives and supporting the people around you,” says Emily.

“Whether I’m starting or continuing a project it will always involve a lot of talking with my neighbours about concepts and, in a way, peer reviewing.”

While she brings skills in freehand drawing and painting to this collective, Emily is perhaps best known for her work in pyrography, or ‘wood burning’.

“It was a niche that I discovered by accident one day when I was playing with a soldering iron,” she explains.“

My mum had asked me to draw something on a cutting board and I didn’t like the way the laser printer atwork was making things pixelated. So, I went to bunnings and found this hot iron, and discovered I could create really three-dimensional and realistic things.”

Emily’s skills in pyrography have led to success on social media and earned various commissions. Her favourite projects often involve portraits of people or pets, or designs that incorporate her love for the beach and surfing.

Emily Hastie's Koala Park artwork now resides in the home of Baz Luhrmann

In September, Emily is excitedto tackle her next challenge by presenting a sculpture at the famous Gold Coast outdoor art exhibition Swell for the first time.

“I’ve never gone into 3D practice before, and it’s extra challenging because at Swell the sculptures need to be strong, durable and visible to the public.”

Emily thanks All Saints and her former art teacher Mrs Vicki Morley for stoking the fire of creativity and encouraging her to pursue a career in visual art.

“It was people like Vicki in my life who really encouraged me and were the reason why Art was my favourite subject at school,” says Emily.“

All Saints was a place where you could find community and connection, and that’s a real human experience I want to keep sharing in my own way through Mint Art House.”