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Digital Mapping: Interactive Map
Dion Beasley

In 2014, renowned Tennant Creek artist Dion ’Cheeky Dog’ Beasley spent a week in his hometown of Canteen Creek, receiving training from Barkly Regional Arts Media Mob. Using a range of professional stills, video and audio equipment, Media Mob members Sean Bahr-Kelly and Lincoln Mackinnon worked closely with Dion to capture the houses, dogs and residents of Dion’s home country, Canteen Creek. 

Dion has an uncanny memory for landmarks, dogs and direction, and is able to document and express this through his artwork. Over the years, Dion has shown a keen interest in drawing topographical style maps and creating unique dioramas of communities in Canteen Creek, Tennant Creek and other places of significance to his life. Returning to Canteen Creek after a two-year absence, new infrastructure, dogs and people have emerged. This visit has enabled Dion to physically experience the space, mentally take note of the changes, and capture the community through digital photography.

After his memorable visit to Canteen Creek, Dion then created a remarkably accurate map that features numbered houses, roads, landmarks, and the dogs that live in each home. Media Mob and Dion then worked closely with Melbourne-based company Spatial Vision to create an online interactive map. This project culminated in an interactive media exhibition at the new Artists of the Barkly gallery space at Barkly Regional Arts, Tennant Creek and featured an interactive map of Canteen Creek, a large scale physical map and collection of printed photographs. This Artist With Disability program, funded by Australia Council for the Arts, was designed to further develop Dion’s skills in drawing and mapping and develop new skills in photography and video, and has afforded him another platform for artistic and personal expression.

Follow the link below to view the interactive map that Barkly Regional Art’s Media Mob created with Dion Beasley and Spatial Vision.

View the Digital Mapping: Interactive Map here.

View Dion Beasleys illustrated book 'Too Many Cheeky Dogs' here.

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Dion Beasley

Dion Beasley was born in Alice Springs 7 July 1991. Dion spent the first eleven years of his life in remote…

Dion Beasley was born in Alice Springs 7 July 1991.

Dion spent the first eleven years of his life in remote communities throughout the Barkly Region. When he was twelve Dion came to live in Tennant Creek with extended family. He continues to live in Tennant with Tony and Joie Boulter.

Although profoundly deaf, it soon became evident that Dion could communicate through his vast array of drawings. Dion grew more confident and relaxed in his surroundings, and so drawing became the avenue through which the world became a place of intrigue and excitement.

Having an excellent memory and accurate eye for detail Dion became immersed in the drawing of the many dogs he had encountered in his life. Over the years Dion continues to predominately draw dogs but also accurate aerial drawings of communities in which he has lived.

Dion’s first exhibition “A Dog’s Life” was held in Darwin and was comprised of a set of eleven Limited Screen prints. Several of Dion’s prints have been part of Travelling Exhibitions around regions of Australia.

In 2011 Dion worked with Leon Stainer at Charles Darwin University to produce a set of etchings and lithographs. Dion worked on etchings with Rob Brown, a renowned N.T. artist.

In 2012 Dion’s work was exhibited as a member of the Primavera Exhibition at the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art.

In 2013 “Too Many Cheeky Dogs”, a children’s picture book written by Johanna Bell and illustrated by Dion (published by Allen and Unwin) was launched at the Darwin festival. At present Dion is working with Johanna to complete their second book. 

A company “Cheekydogs” was established in 2006 as an avenue for Dion to market his work on a variety of products. His prints are sold through Nomad Gallery in Darwin.

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