I’m Clare – wife, mum, artist, author, former teacher, former tattooist and now a Civil Marriage Celebrant.
Life has taken me down a few unexpected paths, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My husband and I are both on our second chapter. We chose to elope, so I understand that love doesn’t always follow tradition—and neither should every wedding or any other celebration. We also have an amazing teenage son who keeps life interesting and reminds us daily how quickly time flies.
Before becoming a celebrant, I spent more than 27 years teaching in an incredible variety of settings. I’ve taught Visual Art, Photography and Media to high school students, worked in primary schools and even spent a year teaching in youth detention. Every experience taught me something valuable about people, resilience, connection and the importance of making everyone feel seen and heard.
Creativity has always been woven through my life. Along the way I became a tattoo artist and owned The Painted Lady tattoo studio in Brisbane for over a decade. Tattoos tell stories, celebrate milestones and honour the people we love—which, when you think about it, isn’t all that different from what a wedding or special occassion ceremony does.
Along the way I wrote two books, with ideas for more. I’ve also been lucky enough to live in London, where I taught, explored Europe, immersed myself in art and embraced every adventure I could find. Those experiences broadened my perspective and strengthened my belief that there is no single “right” way to celebrate love or life.
Despite all my travels, my heart has always belonged to the Queensland countryside. I grew up in Rubyvale, a tiny gem-mining town in Central Queensland, where my dad spent decades mining sapphires. It taught me that the most precious things in life are often found in unexpected places.
I left home at 17 to study photography at university, spent years living in busy cities, and eventually found my way back to country life with my family. These days you’ll usually find me surrounded by nature, covered in tattoos, probably with a camera or paintbrush nearby and doing what I genuinely love—creating ceremonies that feel personal, meaningful and completely authentic.
Whether you’re planning something wildly unconventional, beautifully traditional, or somewhere perfectly in between, my job is simple: to tell your story, celebrate your love and create a ceremony that feels unmistakably you.
Because every love story deserves to be remembered—not because it followed the rules, but because it was real.
Ink & Vows with Clare. Based on the Fraser Coast. Available Australia-wide.