Kim Michelle Toft

Silk Artist | Author | Illustrator

Biography

Opening Night Artist’s For Conservation
Vancouver Canada 2017

“I love the ocean. Its force and beauty inspires me, calms me and fascinates me. Through my children’s books and silk art I want to capture its beauty and help educate our next generation to the importance of its preservation.
By nurturing nature , art and education, I believe we can make real change with positive outcomes for the environment.”

Age 4 Always on an adventure 1964

Kim Michelle Toft has been drawing since the age of 4 and grew up in the suburban streets of Brisbane, Australia. As an only child she would spend hours drawing and creating her cartoon characters like her hero at the time, Walt Disney. Her Mum would buy her a precious ‘golden’ book once a month and over the years Kim built up quite a large collection of cherished picture books, which she shared with her daughter and still has today.

Her artistic ability was recognised and applauded throughout her school and her teacher’s college years, where she majored in art and ran the school magazine.

Crystal blue waters of White Haven Beach North Queensland 1998


During her college years she also discovered the relatively untouched beauty of Far North QLD and The Great Barrier Reef.

One of Kim’s earliest silk paintings
Railway Pub Byron Bay 1988

After 5 years teaching in North Queensland and 4 years working as a graphic designer in Adelaide, South Australia, she moved to Byron Bay, Northern NSW in 1998 and was introduced to silk as a medium.
“ I fell in love with the movement and feel of the silk, its ability to capture the beauty and mystery of our underwater world and the coastal habitats that support it.”

Opening night and featured artist
Maui Marine Art Expo Hawaii 1995

Kim has exhibited her silk paintings nationally and internationally including Hawaii, Hong Kong, Canada, Sydney and Port Douglas.

Launch of I Can Swim A Rainbow with the choir from The Swiss German International School Hong Kong 2015


Exhibition highlights include selling a painting to Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall at the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, where she has had 12 solo exhibitions 1993 – 2004. She was selected to be the featured artist at The Maui Marine Art Expo, Hawaii 1995 and was artist in residence with a solo exhibition at The Bateman Foundation, Victoria, Canada 2019.
Meeting Robert Bateman was one of the highlights of her career.

Kim with Robert Bateman at his studio
Salt Spring Island Canada 2019

Kim is also an exhibiting member of the prestigious organisation Artists For Conservation based in Vancouver, Canada.

Her greatest achievement however was the birth of her daughter, Casey Elle, in 1992 and that is when Kim became serious about her direction as an artist, author and conservationist. She started writing and illustrating her multi award winning environmental children’s books.

Covers of Kim’s multi award winning environmental children’s books
Over the past 25 years Kim has released 11 multi award winning environmental children’s books , which all showcase Kim’s exquisite hand painted silk illustrations and catchy prose style text. All Kim’s books are still in print, which is a testament to their popularity and relevance. Each book takes approximately 18 months to 2 years to research ,draw , paint , design and produce. One hand painted silk can measure up to 2m x 1m and take up to 3 weeks to produce.
Thirty Amazing Creatures size 120cm x 250 cm hand painted silk from the book The World That We Want 2004

Book signing and presentation
Ballina High School 2016

Her first book One Less Fish released 1993 is still in print today , winning many international and national literature and environmental awards and has been published in several countries. The book’s message was clear – the cost of human impact on the delicate balance in our oceans and in particular coral reefs.

Free LIVE art tutorials for children on FB
Kim Michelle Toft – Artist 2020

In 2005 she started her own publishing company , Silkim Books , which has received several awards for excellence.
Kim travels extensively presenting at schools and festivals throughout Australia and Asia promoting her books and their environmental message.
In 2018 she presented at the famous Ubud Writers Festival in Bali and is planning to present a series of lectures in Canada,
where her daughter Casey now lives.
In 2018 , Kim won an Australia Day Award for Arts and Culture.
Kim also presents free art lessons for kids LIVE on her FB business page
Kim Michelle Toft – Artist.

Inside Sea Silks Gallery Ballina NSW 2019


My Ocean Home mural on the side of the Ramada Ballina 2019


She has her own gallery, Sea Silks Gallery, on the picturesque Richmond River, at the entrance of the Ramada Ballina, Northern NSW , Australia , where she recently installed a 10m x 4m mural,
My Ocean Home on the side of the building.

Silk painting demo 2019


Kim regularly runs silk painting workshops from her gallery and is currently working on a new book and producing a video and tutorial on How To Paint on Silk.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean North Stradbroke Island Australia 2018

 

“I have a wonderful life. I am surrounded by nature’s beauty and I am free to do my art, writing and travelling.

With her daughter Casey Elle Vancouver Canada 2019

I also have the unconditional love of my daughter and a whole lot of lifelong friends to support me.”

Kim currently lives in an old beach house overlooking Shelly Beach and the Pacific Ocean, on the east coast of Australia.

Kim in front of the original silk My Ocean Home The Bateman Foundation Vistoria Canada 2019
To learn more about past exhibitions