Steve Kilcoyne - artist: Lisa views some Desert Art in the Adelaide City region of South Australia

As an artist, Steve Kilcoyne likes to get in touch with his subject so you'll often find him in the hills, wandering the bush or even in the outback collecting inspiration and material for his next piece. Back in his Highbury backyard, Steve sets about capturing the distinctly Australian hues and textures on canvas - and he uses some very unorthodox techniques.

We watched as he mixed handfuls of sand he collected from the Simpson Desert with acrylic building glue and spread it on a canvas.

Steve Kilcoyne, artist: "I like taking things that are everyday and see what we can do with it…"

While the glue is left to dry, Steve and his wife, Linda begin their double act on another canvas. And it really is a team effort. With the background done - it's time to work on the main subject - in this case a swathe of Australian Iris bending gently in the breeze.

Linda Kilcoyne, artist: "I think Steve gets a real good flow to his paintings because he can be so fast and immediate in how he does it. I can be a bit more stinted so I'm better off looking at the overall picture and telling him what to do rather than being hands on myself."

After running a successful graphic design business called 'Studio3' for 20 years, this husband and wife team is now enjoying their new found artistic freedom - away from demanding client briefs and tight deadlines.

Steve's strikingly colourful works are collected by private and corporate clients here and overseas - allowing Steve and Linda to support their other great passion - community aide projects in developing countries. It all started in 2006 when Steve and Linda's late mother, Margaret visited Rwanda - it was a confronting and life-changing experience.

Steve Kilcoyne, artist: "It's amazing how we develop a fatigue because so constantly on television we're being asked to give. We develop a fatigue. When you experience it first hand and see and hold the babies dying of AIDS it's so confronting that you go I've got to share what I've got."

So moved by what they saw, they've set up a scholarship in Margaret's memory to support tertiary education in Rwanda.

Steve Kilcoyne, artist: "We decided that we needed to do something and graphic design wasn't going to do it. We found the best thing was to create art and donate art to charities or raise the funds directly. It's been our life's passion for the last four years."

That means proceeds from his paintings could help improve the lives of people in need on the other side of the world. Steve Kilcoyne's wide ranging works can be seen online at www.studio3.com.au. There, you'll also find contact details for more information on the Margaret Elizabeth Smith Scholarship.

Steve Kilcoyne Art
Studio3
www.studio3.com.au