Artist Hayley Gillispie

Cairns based artist Hayley Gillispie has collaborated with Council to add her artistic flair to Cairns Celebrates 150 Years, capturing the essence of our city through her vibrant and distinctive style.

Hayley’s work reflects the colour, energy and natural beauty of the tropics — from reef and rainforest to the rhythm of daily life in our community. Her artwork for the 150-year celebrations brings together the past and present, weaving symbols of local heritage, culture and environment into a joyful expression of what makes Cairns unique.

Her artwork will feature across the Cairns Celebrates 150 Years program, events and promotions throughout 2026.

I arrived in Cairns on a warm, balmy December day in 1996 as a wide-eyed backpacker from London — and instantly felt at home. I was captivated by the vivid colours intensified by the tropical sunlight, the lush, oversized foliage, and the wonderful wildlife. The vibrant iconography of everything that makes Cairns ‘Cairns’ quickly became my creative inspiration.

Since then, my artistic journey has evolved to include a wide range of work: from exhibiting in galleries to commercial illustration, from designing sets and costumes for theatre to creating artwork for tourism, public art projects, and private commissions. My style continues to celebrate the colour, life, and energy of Far North Queensland — the place that stole my heart and continues to inspire every brushstroke.”