THE ARTIST

Desmond Sweeney is the resident artist at Kawa Heart Studio. Raised on the northern beaches of Sydney with a penchant for the sea, surfing & painting landscapes, the Artist now resides in Fremantle on the west coast of Australia with his partner & fellow creative Dee Tang & their little assistants Rafa Rose, Beau Sunray & guiding angel Kawa Leaf.

Prior to founding 8footwalls, a varied background of experiences enhanced Desmond’s expertise across a variety of related disciplines including mural painting, faux effects, traditional signpainting, airbrush and illustration. 

A contract with the Scenic Art Department at Opera Australia heralded 5 years as a Scenic Artist painting sets, faux effects, backdrops and props. Desmond has additional 5 years experience teaching special effects props painting, portraiture and scenic painting at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney Australia and recently spent 3 years teaching at the historic Fremantle Arts Centre in Western Australia. 

Following from this eventful timeline, Desmond currently produces original oil and acrylic paintings from his studio in Fremantle and continues to seek new challenges and projects for 8footwalls. 

 

THE MURALS

The artist is renowned for his naturalistic palette & distressed textural finishes seen in major Australian venues. He creates original seascape and landscape murals with soft faded tones and a dreamlike sense of nostalgia. With precedents in traditional wallpaper print, natural history illustration, and early surf photography, the fresco style work calls in the beauty of the natural environment. These murals are painted and designed by Desmond Sweeney and on larger projects helped by a team of skilled artist assistants.

8footwalls is marked out by a breezy, solutions-based approach that brings expansive tranquillity to any interior. As a proven example, an 8footwalls mural at the Paddington in Sydney’s CBD is credited with building the “relaxed British charm” that makes competitors “green eyed” (Venue Magazine, 2017). Desmond’s murals and art have featured in Vogue Living, Real Living, Habitus and Belle magazines.

8footwalls has collaborated on bespoke projects for premiere architects and design firms; Akin Creative, Snoop Global, Acme & Co, Alexander & Co, Danny Broe, Samantha Leigh Interiors and multiple venues for Hemmes Trading Ltd and FJM Property.