Our Story
Hello, Bonjour from Isabelle & Melanie.
Welcome to La Source Australia - The Source of Inspiration!
We're a mother-daughter art studio based in Sydney, creating bold, nature-inspired art and gifts that blend our French heritage with our love of the Australian bush.
Since 2010, we've been creating colourful, playful artworks together - from art prints and greeting cards to enamel pins, bookmarks and magnets. Every piece begins as original artwork, inspired by Australia's native flora, wildlife and landscapes. Most of our collection is designed, printed and hand-finished right here in Australia, using sustainable materials from recycled paper to responsibly sourced eucalyptus wood.
In 2025, we became official licensees of the Sydney Opera House Trust, allowing us to create exclusive artworks and gifts celebrating Australia's most iconic landmark - with royalties from every sale going back to support the Trust. Our work is proudly stocked by leading cultural institutions including the Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Museum and National Museum of Australia - partners who share our love of Australian art, nature and storytelling.
Isabelle Boreham (the mother)
Parisian born, Isabelle trained as a textile designer in Paris before working in London and New York, then moved to Australia in the 1980s, working for Bonds Australia - including the Sydney 2000 Olympics - before founding La Source Australia in 2010. Influenced by artists such as Rousseau and her genuine love of being in nature, Isabelle begins each artwork with a sketch, before bringing her bold, characterful creatures to life in story.
Melanie Beresford (the daughter)
Melanie is a practising artist with a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from COFA, UNSW, and over 40 exhibitions to her name. She joined the studio in 2013, bringing her own contemporary eye to the collection. Together, she and Isabelle create every piece from start to finish - painting, printing, packaging and having fun along the way. Her biggest inspiration? Her two daughters, Juliette & Florence.
Travel Friendly Gifts
Whether you're heading overseas, visiting friends interstate, or sending a little piece of Australia to loved ones abroad, our gifts are made to travel beautifully.Nearly everything in our range is under 100g and designed to pack flat — so they're light in your luggage, light to post, and light on the environment. From art prints and greeting cards to tea towels, magnets, and wooden ornaments, our creations are easy to tuck into a suitcase or slip into an envelope.
That means you can share a thoughtful, Australian-made gift without the excess weight or waste - perfect for the traveller, or anyone who loves sending a little joy far and wide!
Eco-Friendly Art Studio
At La Source Australia, we're committed to reducing our carbon footprint and operating as sustainably as possible, with a strong focus on environmentally responsible practices at every stage - from design through to packaging.
Here are some of the positive changes we've made to protect the planet:
Sustainable Materials: Our greeting cards and envelopes are created with 100% recycled paper.
Locally Made with Recycled Fabrics: Our microfibre tea towels and lens cloths are created locally using recycled fabrics and water-based inks, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Plastic-Free Packaging: Our tote bags and tea towels are now 100% plastic-free, and we've significantly reduced our use of cello bags for protective packaging.
Sustainable Wood Products: Our wooden magnets, bookmarks and hanging ornaments are printed on sustainably sourced wood using Greenguard GOLD certified inks.
Minimising Waste: We produce small print runs to reduce potential waste, and all printing is done locally to support local suppliers and reduce transportation emissions.
Reusable Design: Our greeting cards are designed to have a second life - they can be reused as bookmarks.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: We use recycled brown paper for gift-wrapping and biodegradable, recyclable bubble cushioning when needed.
Isabelle & Melanie xx
La Source Australia acknowledges the Dharawal people as the traditional owners of the land upon which our studio stands, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.