In 1985 Hayley moved to Tonga, with her family from Australia, at the age of one. Her childhood was spent in the village and by the sea. She attended Tongan schools, and regularly participating in the performance of Tongan dance and song. After graduating from Tonga High School, Hayley went on to study the art of film making at Griffith University in Brisbane - receiving her degree in 2003.
Her profession today is most diverse. Primarily Hayley is an accomplished sculptor and prop maker to the Australian film industry. She has worked under producer/directors such as Steven Spielberg, Bas Lurman and designer Cathryn Martin (Hayley's own idols as a young girl). Her latest endeavors being feature films "Fools Gold". "Australia" and "Wolverine". Hayley also designs sets and costumes for film and television, paints on canvas and sculpts silver and gold jewelry. She has her own range of gift cards and at present is publishing her first children's book as author and illustrator. She also enjoys woodwork and entertains herself by making simple furniture in her home workshop-an artistic appetite seemingly never satisfied.
Presently based in Brisbane, Hayley is perusing her passion for what she believes is art in it's truest form - painting on canvas.
"It feels nice to get back to producing artwork in a simple, more traditional way ... but I do like to put my own little twist on things. "Exploring with colour is how I like to describe my paintings. I like to make paintings that are exciting to look at and are also exciting for me to paint."
SCULPTURED JEWELRY RANGE EXCLUSIVE TO BLUE BANANA STUDIOS
TRADITIONAL FOOD HOOK
ONE NIGHT WE CAUGHT AN OCTOPUS WHICH GAVE ME A WHOLE THEME TO EXPLORE- One night a family friend "Soane" caught Feke (octopus) right out of the sea in front of our house. He tenderized it the traditional way (between a stick and a coconut) on the sand, then onto the BBQ it went! I've since painted exciting Feke in bold, strong tones, Feke Lure and the traditional Tongan food hook. I have also added a Feke Pendant in silver surrounding a black pearl to my range of silver and gold jewelry. I have joined my father on a Lapita pottery dig and found some beautiful shards which I've used for reference for paintings and jewelry design.
ALL ART COPYRIGHT OF HAYLEY EGAN
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI OF THE YEAR GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY
Hayley Egan, Prop Maker, Sculptor and Painter, (Griffith Film School)
IMAGE PAINTED BY Hayley EGAN FOR THE GATSBY