Marie partnered with Kylie Gibb to create “The CollaborArtti” Studio where they teach art and craft to adults and children. This space will also be used by other artists.

Completed a Trade in Typography (the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed) in NZ, before moving to Australia in 1989. Where she continued to work at various Typesetting companies.

Brought first home in Woy Woy where she took time off to raise her two boys. While at home Marie was very involved with school in the P&C, then Class Parent at the Steiner School at Fountaindale. While the boys were in pre-school, Marie attended Folk Art Classes, where she found her passion. Spent 3 years teaching Folk Art from home and sold a number of items. Marie has always been creative and would help make felt animals to be sold at the Steiner School Spring Fair.

Marie completed Certificate III in Children’s Services in 2010, working for Mission Australia in their Childcare Centres from 2010 until 2012. Marie joined the Scouting Movement in 2005 as a Joey Scout Leader (5-9 yr old), programming for weekly nights through the school term, organising outings and activities. Marie completed Certificates IV in Leadership and Frontline Management in 2007. Marie moved onto being the District Joey Scout Leader for Gosford, assisting the Joey Leaders and organising district outings throughout the term and yearly organising a Joey and parent overnight camp, usually having 115 people attending.

Marie travelled to Bali in 2016, where she decided it was time to paint again. Marie attended art classes with Penny Stanton, where she was helped to find her passion. In May 2017 Marie started working at Coast Community Connections as a Direct Care Worker, working with the elderly assisting them in their own homes. Marie left there in Oct 2018 to start a home-based art studio “The CollaborArtti”, teaching art and craft to adults and children and working with other artists to create amazing artworks.

Born in Australia, Kylie has remained a permanent resident while raising her son on the Central Coast NSW. Kylie has formed a business partnership with Marie Pilon in 2018 as The CollaborArtti Studio. They have begun an art studio where they paint and create their own works of art but have also started art classes and workshops for children and adults.

Kylie started her art/creative journey in school and wished that she had continued art throughout her life, but life took a different path until recently when the passion reignited, and she picked up the brushes again.

The career path for Kylie has been varied and has included hospitality, remedial massage, event management and office administration during which she has worked for others and also as a business owner and in a business partnership.

During her role as administration assistant in Central Coast Rudolf Steiner School, Kylie gained experience and training in a school environment and the regulations around working with children. ie. First Aid, Child Protection, Asthma, and anaphylaxis training was provided. Kylie now enjoys spending time on her own creative expression and assisting others to do the same.

Formal training includes:

• Diploma in Remedial Massage.
• Holistic Counselling.
• Certificate in Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy.
• Certificate IV in Business (Small Business Management)
• Diploma of Event Management.
• Diploma of Tourism (Operations Management).
• Certificate II in Information Technology.
• Certificate II in Maritime Operations.

Kylie has demonstrated an interest in study and learning with ongoing education throughout her life and has worked successfully in a variety of roles and responsibilities.