The healing business of art, friendship & community
After an 8 year battle with infertility, heartbreak and IVF treatment, Sorrel Trevarthen turned to art to help her to process the grief associated with this difficult time in her life.
What started as drawing anything that inspired her or distracted her, quickly lead to illustrating homes. Home represented a place of family, belonging, love and a support.
Family is at the centre of everything Sorrel wanted for her life. Her son, Miles, arrived with great joy for Sorrel and her husband, Adam, in 2018 and has continued to be the focus of Sorrel’s life. Being the mum she always longed to be.
In 2023, Sorrel’s Illustration business “Picket Fence Illustrations” was “born”. Creating free-hand original artworks of homes and special buildings. Owning her business has given Sorrel the flexibility to be at school drop off every day and spend school holidays going on adventures with her son.
In 2025, Sorrel and Picket Fence Illustrations organised a community celebration and mini-exhibition with Outfield Café in Yeo Park, Ashfield. People of all ages came together to enjoy this wonderful place. Following the event, Sorrel was honoured to receive a “Community Recognition Statement” from Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen, on behalf of the NSW government.
Amongst the attendees to the Yeo Park event, were artists Lucy Dujmovich and Joyce Lai whom Sorrel had met through being part of an artist mentoring community “Secret Artist Business” facilitated by Georgia Norton-Lodge (@georgiadrawsahouse). Through this mentoring program, Sorrel, Lucy and Joyce had learnt that “community over competition” was a magnificent way to operate art business. Contrary to her pervious experience as an interior designer in the corporate world.
Together, Sorrel, Lucy and Joyce formed a friendship and a support network. Encouraging and inspiring each other in their mutual growth of their illustration businesses all of which are based in Sydney’s Inner West. Instead of competing, they realised that there are “enough houses & buildings for all of us to draw” A sentiment their mentor and fellow inner-west illustration artist, Georgia, inspired within them.
In April 2026, Sorrel, Lucy and Joyce will be holding a group exhibition at the Corner Gallery in Stanmore. Together they will be showcasing illustrations of historic architecture of Sydney’s Inner West each in their unique artistic style.
What started as a process of healing and restoration within Sorrel’s broken heart, has developed into being part of a meaningful and joyful community of artists and business owners. Her friendship with Lucy and Joyce is such a gift (Sorrel is getting overwhelmed with gratitude & emotion writing this! Thanks girls xxxx)
You are invited to “Inner West Locals” the exhibition:
Date: Thursday 23rd – Wednesday 29th April, 2026
Location: The Corner Gallery – Corner of Percival Rd & Myrtle St, Stanmore.
For Exhibition opening times & more information:
Follow & contact the Artists:
Sorrel Trevathen - @picket_fence_illustrations
Lucy Dujmovich - @Lucydujmovich & @studioinnerwest
Joyce Lai - @quokkascorner