Divi & Frey

Paris is often described as magical. For me, it was creatively catalytic.

Rosamond McCulloch studio building, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (Dec 2023)

In early development for Divi and Frey and the Curse of Anubis, Book One of the series, I lived and worked at the Cité Internationale des Arts as part of the University of Tasmania’s Rosamond McCulloch studio artist-in-residence program. Unlike the whirlwind of a tourist sprinting between monuments, I had the rare luxury to be still—to absorb the place fully and let Paris slowly sketch itself into my imagination.

The staircase in the Rosamond McCulloch studio building, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (Dec 2023)

Inspiration in the Bones and Canals

From wandering the halls of the Louvre to drifting beneath the Bastille through the canals of Saint-Martin, Paris unveiled layer upon layer of history and story. The catacombs—oh, the catacombs! I had expected to feel solemn reverence, maybe even quiet awe. What I got was that plus a moment of unexpected hilarity.

As we moved through tunnels adorned with carefully stacked bone and skulls arranged in pattern —a young family followed a few steps behind. The parents issued the standard warnings: “Be careful.” “Don’t touch.” And then… a clunk in the dark. A child’s voice echoed: “Whoopsy, Daddy!” Cue an avalanche of imagined disaster—bones tumbling, curses activating, Frey having to dodge a femur trap.

Les Catacombes de Paris (Dec2023)

Of course, it was only a loose stone kicked down the path. But the moment stuck—this humorous little spark inside such a haunting place. These are the small moments that became woven into the fabric of Divi and Frey. Moments of unexpected playfulness that bring characters to life in unexpected way..

Rosamond McCulloch studio, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (Dec 2023)

Living, Drawing, Discovering

Paris wasn’t just the backdrop; it was like having a collaborator. Living as an artist in residence gave me something deeper than a checklist of sights. I sketched crepe preparation techniques at café Montpamasse, marveled at how effortlessly a waiter turned batter into golden spirals with a flick of the wrist.

La Coupole, how to make a Crepe Suzette, Montpamasse, Paris (Dec2023)

I wandered medieval alleyways imagining how Divi might get lost there… or escape something ancient and cursed. That immersive experience helped me breathe life into this graphic novel—a story that blends Egyptian mythology, Paris, and a cinematic adventure brough to life on the page.

The Hunt for Future Homes

Now that Book One is on its way, I am always on the lookout for other places that might shape future Divi and Frey adventures. If you run a creative residency and think your location would suit a bit of mythical mischief, please get in touch. There might be a chapter waiting to be set in your part of the world.

La Peloton Cafe Paris (Dec2023)