HI, I'm Grace Bailey and this is some of my story....
My contemporary realist paintings explore the intersection of the seen and the unseen. I partner with the Spirit of God—the great “Other”—to create glimpses of the supernatural as it weaves through ordinary life. In short, I’m a prophetic artist, painting visual messages from God.
Over the years, I’ve painted live in hundreds of venues—African orphanages, art festivals, churches, and conferences across America, England, Fiji, and New Zealand. More recently, the list has grown to include Macao, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Brussels. Wherever I go, I find that paint and prayer speak a universal language.
There was a season where I focused on animals and birds—portraits that revealed human personality traits and celebrated the good, the noble, and the lovely in people and places. In artsy terms, I suppose they were metaphors for the human condition.
These days, I’ve come full circle, returning to portraiture—but with a twist. The faces I paint carry stories. Sometimes they’re layered with symbols, sometimes transparent, sometimes prophetic. Always, I aim to reflect something deeper than skin-deep: beauty that holds both strength and fragility, vulnerability and hope.
Teaching is as much a part of my calling as painting. Through workshops and courses, I help people uncover (or recover) their creativity and learn to partner with the Holy Spirit in art.
My book Painting with God was written for anyone wanting to explore prophetic art. Part personal journey, part practical guide, it’s a collection of images, stories, and insights that encourage readers to step into their own creative partnership with the Spirit.
At the heart of it all, I’m passionate about one thing: helping people encounter God through art—whether by looking at a painting, picking up a brush, or daring to believe that their creativity really does matter.
How I paint.....
I love how paint will take it’s own path if you let it.
Mix pigment with medium and it flows and not always how you expect…..
It was a discovery I made very early when I started off with watercolour. I still love the sensuousness of pigment mixed with medium and allowed to find it’s own way.
That’s where I started. Then I went off to uni and got a Masters in realist oil portraiture and drawing. Despite moving to oils, I used the watercolour technique of loads of medium (turps) and let the paint take it’s own path! It makes for the most interesting discoveries!
I came out of uni all bushy-eyed and believing that I could make it as an artist till I didn’t. What resulted was I closed up my studio and didn’t cross the threshold for 2 years. It was a 2 year dark night of the soul when I didn’t paint at all. I believed I’d failed as an artist because of the difficulties with marketing.
Eventually, I began again, very tentatively, by exploring the deeper, the unseen world. The supernatural and how it affects us. I partnered with the ‘other’ and began painting live. A lot. In front of an audience with a limited time span. There's lots more about my story in my book, "Painting With God", available here as a download.
Three month artist in residence in brussels 2025!
I’ve just arrived back home after spending three months as an artist-in-residence at a Christian gallery right in the Grand Place, Brussels. For those who haven’t been, that’s the equivalent of having a faith-based art space smack in the middle of Trafalgar Square in London—absolutely extraordinary. Honestly, it’s nothing short of a miracle that a gallery like this exists in such a prestigious and historic location.
Over twelve weeks I painted 18 new works, had countless conversations with visitors, and learned more than I expected. I made lots of new friends with the gallery volunteers who create a space where where art and faith overlaps daily. I shared prophetic words, encouraged other Christian creatives, and saw people encounter God in unexpected ways—all through the lens of painting and prayer.
For those wondering what is prophetic art, my time in Brussels was a living answer: it’s art that partners with the Holy Spirit to speak, heal, and inspire. These paintings weren’t just canvases—they were conversations with God, offered to anyone who walked through the door.
These are just a few of the works I created in Brussels.....
Fragrance of Heaven
Sound of Heaven
Touch of Heaven
Come To Me
Believe For Multiplication Miracles
Remember Me
the year of fruitfulness
This year, God has had me paint three versions of grapes: one in Australia (March), one in Singapore (April–August), and another in Brussels (May). Though created in different places, they all carry the same heart and message. I don't usually repeat paintings but this time He had clearly told me to. I guesss He was making a point!
The inspiration comes from John 15, where Jesus describes Himself as the Vine, the Father as the gardener, and us as the branches that bear fruit. The fruit in my paintings sits at different stages of ripeness—some bathed in light, others still in shadow. This speaks of how we don’t all grow at the same pace or spend the same seasons in God’s favour, yet our survival depends on staying connected to the Vine.
One of the simplest ways I’ve found to remain in the Vine—that is, in God’s Presence—is through corporate worship. Of course, there are many other ways: prayer, devotion, unity. But gathering with others in worship has always been the anchor that keeps me rooted.
And then there’s wisdom. Bearing fruit isn’t automatic; it requires discernment—knowing when to speak, when to hold silence, when to step forward, when to wait. In the end, fruitfulness is always paired with wisdom.
Prints available.
Ephemeral women series
After my son's passing, I created a series of ephemeral women, who peer through layers of reality—symbolized by abstracted flowers, birds, and insects. These elements speak not only to the disconnection caused by the lockdowns, a time of isolation and reflection, but also to the internal and external pain inflicted upon us. They focus on the inherent beauty about them in the midst of pain; resilience despite the layers of hardship.
This series reflects not only my own years of experience, pain, and turmoil but also the generational legacy of the women who came before me. Their stories are written in the very fabric of my identity—women who arrived as illiterate convicts, yet carried with them an inner strength that I now carry within me.
We are a family of strong women.....
I am the first to have the opportunity to develop my creativity
I won for the third time!
I’m delighted to announce that I won the “Best In Show” prize at Warrnambool Easter Art Prize with my painting, “I, Wisdom”.
The theme for the show were the verses taken from Proverbs 8 22-28 that talks about wisdom being there before the earth was created.
I know I had supernatural help with this one as it was so effortless!
Even those hands worked out without too much angst!
It’s the third year in a row that I’ve won.
The judge’s comments were;
“An enchanting painting depicting a deep devotion and faithful gaze. There is a feeling of a protective desire to fully embrace all earthly wisdom. The space atmosphere projects that the creation process is current (the incomplete earth, the zapping light, the firm but gentle embrace).
A wonderful composition. The hand form is gently done and the eyes show the painting's soul.”
2025 has been a big year!
The year kicked off with a bang! In January, I had works featured in three exhibitions here in my hometown of Geelong, Australia: Sequel Gallery, Liminal Gallery, and “Reflections.”
February and March were full of creative momentum as I began developing a new online course—Creating Better Prophetic Art. (It’s currently on pause due to other exciting projects taking priority for now.) I also submitted a piece for the Flanagan Art Prize in Ballarat.
March wrapped up with a whirlwind week at the Melbourne Flower Show, where a group of us exhibited 58 paintings and hosted thousands—literally tens of thousands—of visitors at our stand over five jam-packed days. It was massive, and exhausting.
I went to Singapore in early April to take part in a worship night and help with planning for the upcoming Who Am I – Who I Am conference for Christian creatives. I began painting a version of my grapes piece live on the night—a visual reminder of John 15, where Jesus tells us that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit.
The theme for this year is all about bearing fruit as a Christian—not just in what we do, but in who we are becoming. This painting is a personal reminder (and public declaration!) that real, lasting fruit only comes when we stay rooted in the Vine. I’m excited to see how God moves through art, worship, and creativity in this next season. Big things are brewing!
Early May saw me fly out to a week of live painting at Gem Geneva and then off to Brussels for three months.
The year culminated with the Freedom Encounter Conference for Christian creatives in Singapore in mid August where I was a keynote speaker, a workshop facilitator, a live painter and an organiser!
2024 was a bIG Year!....
- A marketplace stand of prophetic art with Live to Love Conference in Adelaide.
- An exhibition in Geelong at Sequel Gallery.
- Kicking off the tutored online course for Painting Powerhouse.
- Winner, Best In Show, Warrnambool Easter Art Show.
- A group exhibition of flowers in March at the Melbourne Flower Show.
- Zoom supplement to Painting Birds and Painting Contemporary Flowers, starting April 16th and 17th.
- Hue and Cry exhibition, see below.
- Singapore, teaching, speaking and painting, Hong Kong and Macau, May 29th - June 10th.
- Stir Conference, live painting, Melbourne, July 12th -13th.
- Singapore, teaching and painting, Malaysia, 22nd July -4th August
- Freedom Encounter Conference, Singapore, 26th September - 28th September.
- Her Voice, teaching, speaking and painting, Hong Kong women's conference, 12 -13th October.
The most exciting and fulfilling event though was the conference in Singapore that we organised for Christian creatives entitled Freedom Encounter, Reigniting hopes and dreams. (We did it again in August 2025 in Singapore.)
And just to top it all off, I painted and presented at Her Voice Conference in Hong Kong in October.
The Wonder of It All” – winner for the 2nd year running at the Warrnambool Easter Art Exhibition, inspired by the theme “Marvels, Mysteries, and Miracles of Creation.”
The young woman at the heart of this piece carries both depth of feeling and intellect—two human qualities that remain one of life’s ultimate mysteries.
Delicate flowers weave through her image, celebrating the marvel of metamorphosis from seed to bloom. The butterfly mirrors life’s transformation, from humble grub to ethereal beauty, while the soaring bird embodies the awe of creation—from fragile egg to majestic flight.
2023 was a whirlwind and i loved it!
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I began the year with a solo exhibition, works in six combined exhibitions, hosted five workshops, was published in two books, and painted live in Singapore, Melbourne, Warrnambool and Ballarat. In May I went to Thailand, Laos and Singapore. For the latest update, go here It was action-packed and amazing! Workshops, live painting sessions, worship night, visits to children's homes and a hill-tribe village and more. Check out the story.
And all that was before July had finished. I went on to paint at Stir Youth Conference in Melbourne, hosted more workshops in America and New Zealand, and painted live at two venues in New Zealand. As soon as I got home I filmed and published the new Painting Contemporary Flowers Course, and then spent a month painting for an exhibition at the Inner Art Fair in Melbourne. I jumped on a plane to China and even managed to spend a week in Tasmania with my family at the very end of the year. |
Early on, A year of painting live
The images above are part of a project I did where I painted every week during worship for a whole year. Read all about it in the "Painting With God' book.
I went on to do it hundreds of times….. In multiple overseas countries from an African orphanage to America and England with Fiji and New Zealand along the way. I’ve painted in front of crowds of 10,000 multiple times.
Right at the beginning of the painting live journey!
I was honoured to be asked to participate in Easterfest in Toowoomba, and let me tell you—it was an absolute blast! The energy, the people, and the opportunity to share my art with such an incredible crowd was truly a highlight. The video takes a little while to load but it's worth it in the end.
Podcasts
I'm a member of the Matt Tommey Christian Artist Directory
This is a recent podcast I did with Dr Zali O'Dea for Face Equality Week.
Podcast with Debbie Marino, Director of Propheticgallery.com, the largest online prophetics gallery in the world.
Start Your Own Prophetic Art Adventure With The 'Painting With God" book.
You'll be guided by experienced artist, Grace Bailey, through ten colorful chapters on how to get started, face your fears and create images that tell God-stories.
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