Meet the Artist Behind Island Punch: Claudia Coleman ☀️🌺
When we say we love a creative collab, we mean it. And Claudia Coleman from Designs by Claudia? She’s become part of the Sheila May Swim family.
You might remember her vibrant, joyful work from our Far North collection last year (Great Barrier Reef and Sea Shells). Well, she’s back again! This time as the powerhouse behind our new Island Punch collection, featuring our juicy new prints Tropical Patch and Fruit Fiesta.
Based in sunny Cairns, Claudia is a graphic designer turned full-time artist, known for her bold colours, tropical themes, and hand-drawn details that are packed with personality. We sat down with Claudia to talk about art, island life, designing through pregnancy, and what it’s like to see your drawings turned into swimwear.
Let’s dive in… ☀️🌺
Tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from, what are your hobbies and passions?
My name is Claudia, and I’m originally from country Victoria. I grew up on a grain farm with my little brother and my parents, just outside a small town with a population of around 700 people.
I got married in November 2024 at our family farm, and now live in Cairns with my husband and our fur baby Maggie, a very cute Jack Russell Terrier. We’re also expecting our first baby this May, so life is feeling very full and exciting!
After studying graphic design, we moved to Far North Queensland in early 2023, which allowed me to take my art business full-time. These days, I sell my hand-drawn art prints and souvenirs at local markets in Port Douglas and Palm Cove, inspired by the tropical scenery all around us.
What inspires your artwork?
Our backyard here in Cairns! I go on walks and take so many photos of tropical plants, flowers, birds, buildings - you name it. I’m also hugely inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, which is just an hour away. Nature here is full of colour, texture, and pattern so it’s impossible not to feel creative.
Can you share the story behind the artwork featured in your Sheila May Swimwear collaboration?
This collection was all about bold colour and playful vibes. Toni had a vision for a patchwork-style design with a tropical feel, which became the inspiration for Tropical Patch. We added hibiscus flowers to amp up the holiday mood, and I love how vibrant it turned out.
For Fruit Fiesta we wanted something that could complement the patchwork without competing with it. Both prints share the same colour palette, so they feel like a matching set, while still having their own unique personalities.
How did it feel seeing your art come to life on swimwear?
Honestly, surreal! Seeing my little illustrations become a pattern, then printed onto fabric, and then turned into swimwear that women are actually wearing? So cool.
I’ve always admired how Sheila May Swim celebrates all shapes and sizes, and to know that my designs are helping women feel confident and colourful makes me so proud.
What do you hope people feel when they wear your prints?
Joy! I want these pieces to make people smile, feel bright, bold, and beautiful. Colour is so powerful. It lifts moods, expresses personality, and makes getting dressed feel fun. That’s what summer is all about.
What first sparked your love of art?
I’ve been drawing since I was two. There’s photographic evidence of me in a nappy at a tiny table, colouring away. Mum’s a primary school teacher, so there were always crafty things to do at home. Dad’s a grain farmer but also a keen photographer, so creativity was always around me.
I loved visual communication in high school, went on to study graphic design at uni, and have always found peace in drawing or painting. It’s my happy place and a great way to escape the chaos of daily life.
Where can people find your work?
You can shop my full range on my website, or follow me on Instagram: @designsbyclaudia.
If you’re ever in the Far North, come visit the Port Douglas or Palm Cove markets! April to October is the best time to visit - and you might just catch me (and my art) in real life.
Any advice for artists who dream of seeing their work on fashion or swimwear?
Believe in yourself and create what you love. Don’t focus on follower counts or what others are doing. Just find your style and lean into it. When you truly love your work, others will too. That’s how you land collaborations like this one!
What’s next for you?
With our baby arriving in May, life’s about to change in a big way. But I’m hoping to design some baby-themed art and products too, there’s so much inspiration out there!
I’ve also got a couple of fun collaborations lined up for early 2026, and I’ll be back at the markets as long as I can brave the Cairns humidity during wet season. For now, I’m soaking up the creative energy and enjoying this new chapter.
Claudia’s work is sunshine on a page and now, sunshine on swimmers. We’re so thrilled to have her art splashed across our Island Punch collection, and we can’t wait to see how you wear it.
