Cover artist… Brentos

With murals all over the Beaches, award-winning designs all over must-have merch and beers, and books selling faster than fresh baked hot cakes, Brentos is back for his third Tawny Frogmouth cover and Tawny Grogmouth fundraising pale ale.

Do you have a favourite Australian animal?
We have some of the quirkiest, weirdest and wonderful animals in the world. Where else can you go and be woken up by a family of Kookaburras, which many first-time tourists think are monkeys? Or take a stroll through our bushland and happen across a skittish Wallaby or, if you’re lucky, spot the crimson underbelly of a Red Belly Black Snake? I think all of our animals are quite special, but if you had to make me choose, it’s got to be the Echidna. The way they waddle around the bush, their little bubbly snouts and famous love trains are just the best.

When did you first realise the power your art could have for supporting animal protection?
I grew up in Terrey Hills, surrounded by lots of bush. I’d explore the local fire trails to discover secret creeks and watering holes, often coming across all kinds of wildlife along the way. I think these experiences have stayed with me, and I’ve made sure doing good things for wildlife is an over-arching mission. Rather than being too pushy or political, I try to include a gentle message of appreciation for our wildlife and their habitats by using colour and composition. I try to focus on the beauty of what we already have, why it’s great and let people make up their own mind about what needs to be done to preserve this beauty.

Your debut book, Australia From Dawn to Dusk, has been shortlisted for the Children’s Book of the Year. What have been the memorable moments so far in sharing this book with the world?
Having this book published has been a career highlight and what’s been really special has been hearing how people, of all ages and walks of life, connected with it in person. I’ve had teachers share stories of how they use the book to share the iconic places, indigenous countries and local wildlife with their students. Mums and Dads read the book to their little ones every night, families travelling Australia try to check off each location, and heaps of groms saying how they painted one of the pages in their art class.

You have a follow up book coming out soon. Can you share anything about that?
After the feedback from the first book, I wanted to cram as much detail into the next book as I could, and I can say it’s the body of work I’m most proud of. My second book is called ‘Australian Animals from Beach to Bush’ and it’s a journey into Australia’s unique habitats, where we explore the animals that call each habitat home along with the conservation status of each animal highlighted. The book opens for pre-orders on Booktopia in September with a November 1st release date.

What’s next for Brentos?
Tash (Mrs Brentos) and I have a new studio in Brookvale that we’re hoping to use as a little shop and open studio on weekends. We’ve also been collaborating with some pretty awesome clients on ranges that will drop later this year. Apart from that, I’m hoping to have more time to be creative (instead of admin) and take more time out for myself and Tash, get back into the water, and the bush.