Creative Life Purpose

‘To inspire others
to regard the natural world
as essential to spiritual,
mental and physical wellbeing.’

Creative Life Purpose – Created in July 1984 

The ‘why’ behind the work

I have always regarded the discovery of one’s creative voice and one’s creative life purpose as interconnected, yet fundamentally different.

Most creatives can find a voice. There are many expressive mediums to choose from. The greater challenge lies in discovering a purpose — the enduring reason that gives direction, meaning, and resilience to that voice. It is less about the what we do, and far more about the why.

Without a clearly defined purpose, many creative journeys lose momentum. Enthusiasm fades. Practical obstacles — lack of time, money, confidence, or support — become derailers rather than challenges to navigate. Over time, the absence of purpose quietly erodes motivation.

This quest for purpose has been central to my life and teaching for more than four decades.

Purpose, wellbeing, and the missing conversation

I believe the lack of life purpose is one of the least discussed social failures, particularly in early education. Yet it is this absence — this unarticulated lacking — that underpins much of the mental pain experienced by so many people today.

At its most acute, this pain can manifest as anxiety, depression, or a persistent sense of disconnection. The creative impulse is often drawn upon as a remedy, but without purpose, expression alone is rarely enough.

Purpose provides context. It gives creative effort meaning beyond outcome or recognition.

Where it began

As a child and young man, my passion for photography was driven primarily by a desire for acceptance — first within my family and later within a small but passionate SCUBA diving community. I craved recognition, and as a young underwater photographer, I would push myself relentlessly: diving deeper, staying longer, photographing what few had seen before.

What I could not recognise at the time was that this drive was rooted in a more profound longing — a need for unconditional connection.

The Kimberley, 1984

In July 1984, while preparing to head bush into the Kimberley, I received news that my publisher — with whom I had a five-book contract — had gone bankrupt. I was alone in Broome, low on funds, and facing a year-long circumnavigation of Australia with no safety net.

Despite this, I continued.

One evening, sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking boab and eucalypt woodland, I was overwhelmed by a sense of connection — intensified by my first encounter with ancient Kimberley rock art earlier that day. At that time, hardly anyone was there to witness it.

As I sat alone, a wallaroo bounded up and stood quietly watching me. After a moment, I looked out across the landscape as the golden light settled. Something shifted.

In that stillness, I understood what had been missing.

The moment of clarity

That night, by my campfire, armed with little more than a few dollars and a heart full of conviction, I wrote my Creative Life Purpose:

To inspire others to regard the natural world as essential to spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing.

I had no business plan. No roadmap. No guarantees.

Just clarity.

The next morning, I stepped forward to build what would eventually become a vast photographic archive and, later, a publishing company — guided not by certainty, but by purpose.

Why purpose matters

Throughout my teaching, I emphasise that you do not need all the answers when you begin. What matters is having a clear Creative Life Purpose to light the way.

Purpose acts as:

• an anchor during adversity

• a signpost at life’s crossroads

• a reference point for meaningful decision-making

In my darkest moments, it has been a battering ram — not to avoid hardship, but to move through it.

Nearly four decades later, my Creative Life Purpose remains unchanged.

An invitation

My Masterclass, Photography: A Pathway to Purpose, is built around this philosophy. It offers a structured yet deeply personal process for discovering your own Creative Life Purpose — and learning how to nourish it over time.

If you feel drawn to explore the deeper why behind your creative life, I invite you to join me.