Local artist and designer Danny Crichton has created the series Coastal Nature for the Irrigation Tanks. His series is inspired by the flora and fauna of Darwin’s northern suburbs shoreline areas. Danny’s designs reimagine nature with a playful, vibrant style and a bright colour palette. The artworks are located throughout the Richardson Ward at Nakara, Wanguri, and Tiwi sports ovals. 

Artist Statement 

My artworks focus on beauty and repetition in nature. I used inks to create the initial drawings for a fluid and textured effect and then, using digital design techniques, I developed each of them into the duplicated patterns. I wanted to focus on recognisable creatures and plant life that are familiar to the Darwin area. 

Coastal Nature features the Box Jellyfish artwork on the Tiwi oval tank, located in a suburb close to Casuarina Beach.  Serene looking but venomous Box Jellyfish are more likely to be in Top End waters from October to June during ‘stinger season’. 

The Hermit Crabs work can be seen on the Nakara oval water tank. They use sea snail shells for their homes and, although they can live in water, they are really ‘land lubbers’. 

The bright Frangipani Flowers feature at the Wanguri oval water tank site. The Frangipani is an iconic tropical tree bearing clusters of colourful and scented flowers during the Build Up and Wet Seasons. 

Meet the Artist 

Danny Crichton is a visual artist and graphic designer who has called Darwin home for over ten years. Originally from Adelaide, Danny has been an active participant in the Darwin visual arts scene since arriving in the Top End, with solo and group exhibitions. He is adept at both drawing and painting, as well as digital artwork and layout and delivers everything from tea towel design to full wall decal murals. Danny creates iconic branding for local institutions, arts organisations, and businesses, and is co-founder of Creepy Curlew design studio.