Hey everyone,

News first broke out on Twitter (thanks @SOYA_!) and I later asked about who the Queesland shortlists are!  Without further ado...

Mel Stringer, Brisbane QLD

When Mel Stringer works, she likes to make notes to herself such as “be courageous”, “everything will be okay” and “dont gun yaself down”. This form of expressing her feelings on paper with honesty informs every part of her process. The 22 year old freelance illustrator/visual artist regularly contributes to Frankie magazine and is a represented illustrator by Jacky Winter: The Hatch in Melbourne, as well as belonging to 19 KAREN Gallery on the Gold Coast. She doesn’t often plan pieces when beginning a new artwork, instead embracing the idea of being spontaneous, prolific and instantaneous.

Jenni Baxter - Wilston Qld

Jenni Baxter’s work explores the notion of disturbance: “a disengagement from tradition, inviting progression and engagement not only with the modus of contemporary society, but also with an alternate tomorrow”. She completed a Bachelor of Built Environment at The Queensland University of Technology, School of Design, and her work has been showcased in a number of exhibitions including The Queensland Design Awards ‘Design Excellence in Queensland’ at The Queensland Art Gallery; ‘Go for Baroque’ at The Melbourne Museum; ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ The Block, Creative Industries Precinct; The Arc Biennial; Mod Squad: contemporary design and objects; and many more.

Megan Cullen - Brisbane Qld

At the age of twelve during a family road trip across the United States, Megan Cullen was struck by the intense colours and beauty of the Santa Fe landscape, and it was here she first felt the deep desire to record what she saw. After completing a Bachelor of Photojournalism at Griffith University’s, Queensland College of Art, Cullen was invited by renowned UK war photographer, Tim Page, (who inspired Dennis Hopper’s character in ‘Apocalypse Now’) on a photographic journey to Cambodia. They would document the Peace Art Project Cambodia, an EU initiative that gained international acclaim. Since then, Megan’s work has taken her around the globe. Megan’s innate ability to make her subjects feel at ease almost immediately has led her to ride with the Hell’s Angels, traipse the Sahara desert with a family of nomads, jump into crocodile infested waters with Aboriginal children and stage fashion shoots in the streets of Paris and Berlin. Megan’s work has been exhibited internationally and her clients and publications include: Asics (Onitsuka Tiger), Sony BMG, Qantas, Triple J Radio, ABC, Rollingstone, Harper’s Bazaar, Oyster, Yen, Frankie, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and The Big Up (USA).

Nirrimi Hakanson - Townsville, Qld

“Maybe I am just a sixteen year old with exceptional eyes and fingers. I’ve wanted to be a fashion photographer since the beginning of high school, and it’s something that has gradually became thought and breath. Inspired by dreams, youth and colour, I’m not letting my view of the world go unnoticed. I want to be shooting for the likes of Vogue and Oyster before I am legally an adult, just to prove that with ambition and passion, age is irrelevant. I am here to create. I feel like I am still a child, and I want to make my imagination come to life through fashion photography. My photography work is very affected by my curiosity and the stage of life I am going through. I pour myself into my images. I’d like to think I’m fresh and completely what this industry needs.”

Tom Gunn (Designer Shannon Gunn) - Graceville, Qld

Described as ‘sophisticated with an edge,’ Tom Gunn shoes are Australian-designed and Italian-made, defined by the pairing of contrasting textures and colours across designs and with a strong focus on the silhouette of the shoe. Made in Italy using beautiful leathers sourced from some of the top Italian tanneries and suppliers used by many international fashion houses, the Tom Gunn range features a combination of powerful, attention-seeking heels and bold flats. The Tom Gunn story began mid-2007 when passionate shoe designers Gabrielle Thompson and Shannon Gunn resigned from their Australian- based footwear design positions and relocated to Italy to create their first shoe collection. Stemming from a shared passion for individual design and an inability to find shoes they truly loved in the Australian market, Gabrielle and Shannon set out to do what they loved most and created their first collection. Training at the prestigious Ars Arpel School in Milan, the girls passion was fuelled further as they learned about the importance of craftsmanship and design, ensuring each shoe is nothing but exquisite. The tom gunn website www.tomgunn.com was launched in September 2008 with their very own e-tail store and the shoes are stocked in high end boutiques throughout Australia, including Jean Brown, Soletta, Stella and Myrrh, C de C, Ibis, Obsessions and Booty. The shoes have featured in Grazia, Shop till You Drop and Madison, as well as online on the Frankie and Vogue websites. Recently Tom Gunn ranked number 2 on Grazia’s Half Year Hot list. Tom Gunn participated in Rosemount Australia Fashion Week in May 2009 in the Designer Suites and will also present a catwalk show in August at the Brisbane Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival.

Click here for the official SOYA page with the rest of the Australian shortlists...

Good luck :)