Lionel picked up his first piece of charcoal while travelling through Scotland and instantly fell in love with the medium. He felt compelled to draw people's faces because he says that our lives and experiences are reflected in the faces we show to the world. It is the charcoal properties that enable him to capture the essence of those he draws by offering the ability to layer and add depth to their features, bringing out the real true character within. For Lionel the added bonus of being able to draw these characters is to hear the stories which form their life and he credits that as his main source of inspiration when he's drawing. His collection embraces Aussie heroes from around regional Queensland and notables such as Slim Dusty and RM Williams as well as miners, aboriginal elders and environmental activists. Lionel goes under the name of Charcart but to many will always be known as the Charcartist.
