Gloria, one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal artists, stayed with us for a couple of weeks while she created this unique piece. On the morning of her birthday, we surprised her with a birthday cake. Her face lit up with the biggest smile, and she laughed out loud, genuinely delighted. Gloria told us she’d never been given a birthday cake with candles before. The room was filled with warmth and laughter, it set a playful, light-hearted mood for the rest of the day. When she began painting, you could sense that cheeky, happy energy flowing into her work.