Bellbrae resident Lauren Barton is an artist, mother, designer, educator, businesswoman, ceramicist and more.

She’s worked as a designer, renovated multiple houses, taught in schools, run art classes and raised two children.

“It seems like I change careers every 10 years or so,” Lauren said.

“I worked as a designer at Quiksilver in the Roxy department for about seven or so years. I was the head of the Roxy accessories for a while there, and then I decided to go back to uni to do my Dip Ed to go back and do teaching because I wanted to have a family and the design industry was a bit too hectic to do that.

While pursuing her career she’s also managed to raise two children, start a successful bed and breakfast in Hepburn, and keep up her painting and art.

In 2020 the family moved from Torquay to Bellbrae, renovating a six-acre bush property.

This year, Lauren stopped full-time teaching to instead run ceramic classes for adults under her business Bellbrae Clay and focus more on her art.

“I’ve always painted in the background, and I’ve always taught ceramics,” she said.

“Then because of the pandemic I had some friends interested in having a little play around with clay, it’s gotten really popular obviously in COVID. So I started to have a little play around with that and then it really blew up.

Lauren describes the classes as a calming pause in the middle of a busy life.

Read full Surf Coast Times story here.

Laura’s works will be featured in the Surf Coast Arts Trail.