Travel around the world with artist Philippa Webb

Philippa Webb’s nuanced travel experiences are brought to life in her vibrant artist’s travel diaries with her signature style and craftsmanship.

Small handmade diaries of various sizes and designs, some in fabric cases

Philippa Webb, Artist's travel diaries of Philippa Webb, 1994-2015, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Philippa Webb and her artistic style

Philippa F. Webb (1933-2022) was an Australian artist based in Brisbane, Queensland. Despite having never received formal training, Webb developed her signature naïve style from experimenting with shaping, patterns and consciously disregarding proportion and perspective. In particular, Webb was interested in using pattern and colour to portray the landscapes around her.

Webb’s art practice spanned several disciplines including drawing, painting, designing, writing, printmaking, etching, embossing, calligraphy and bookbinding. She utilised her broad skillset and a variety of mediums and methods to create original artwork, paintings, house portraits, artist’s books, greeting cards and prints.

The artist’s business card, pictured below, features one of Webb’s artworks, showcasing quintessential elements of Brisbane: a jacaranda tree, a CityCat, the Story Bridge and the Brisbane River.

Blue business card belonging to Philippa Webb with her name and occupation, 'Artist' and an illustration of Brisbane

Philippa Webb, Business card, n.d., nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Her use of different mediums is evident within her artist’s travel diaries, as well as other published material that feature Webb’s illustrations.

Throughout her career, Webb’s multi-disciplinary art practice saw her receive numerous awards including an Australian Bicentennial Art Commission in 1987, and the Atelier Nation Art Prize in 1988, 1990, and 1991.

Artist’s travel diaries

Webb’s handcrafted concertina artist’s travel diaries illustrate her travels around the world from 1994 to 2015 through ink and pencil drawings in a variation of both colour and black-and-white. Webb described her motivation behind creating the travel diaries:

In the past twenty-five years my husband and I have travelled to many countries. Before leaving I always make a small concertina drawing book in which I record my daily impressions of our travels. These little books contain precious memories of our journeys and experiences.

Philippa Webb, Explanatory card, c. 2010s, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Utilising her skills as a bookbinder, Webb handcrafted her concertina travel diaries and their housings. Concertina books are folded in the form of an accordion, featuring pages stacked alongside each other. Each of Webb’s diaries have a decorative cover and most are housed within their own unique handmade slipcase or bag.

Enjoy a glimpse inside 6 of Webb’s 24 artist’s travel diaries spanning 5 continents.

Umbria unfolded: “Painting group from Australia”

Fabric slipcase made of dark material with a paisley-like pattern in gold and dark jewel-tones

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary cover with a simple brown mountain design and text reading 'Umbria Unfolded'

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with colourful illustrations of a plane, a road through the mountains and pink flowers. The first page has text reading 'La Romita October 1994 twenty-one memorable days'

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with colourful illustrations of Italian towns and streets and a black bird in front of a coat of arms

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with colourful illustrations of a lion sculpture, inside a church and a town on the shore

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with colourful illustrations of people and a religious monument. The last page has a list of places visited on this trip, including Portario, Orvietto and Todi.

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with colourful illustrations of people fisihing, a town above a valley, a lion head sculpture on a brick wall and a doorway

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with colourful illustrations of orchards, people in a car and a market stall

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with colourful illustrations of a stone archway in a ruin, a large ornate building, a bedroom and a brick building

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary back cover with a simple brown mountain design

Philippa Webb, Umbria (Italy), October 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

A journey through Turkey: People, landscapes, streetscapes.

Pink, orange and dark blue slipcase, held closed with a round wooden bead, with small text reading 'Istanbul'

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary cover with an abstract green, yellow, orange and white design

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of people and buildings in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of people, landscapes and buildings in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of landscapes and an island in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of people and city streets in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of architecture and a cliffside in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of rock pools and architecture in Turkey

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary back cover with an abstract green, yellow, orange and white design

Philippa Webb, Turkey, May 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Tropical Far North Queensland: “Rainforest and mangroves”

Travel diary cover with a black background and brown and white illustrations of Australian plants and animals , including a kangaroo and a bilby

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of trees, a tree stump, vines and other plants from Far North Queensland. The first page also has text reading 'Rainforest & Mangroves'

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of trees, vines and other plants from Far North Queensland

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of trees, vines and other plants from Far North Queensland

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of trees, vines, other plants and fungi from Far North Queensland

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of trees, vines and other plants from Far North Queensland. The last page also had text reading 'Philippa Webb in Far North Queensland 1996'

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary cover with a black background and brown and white illustrations of Australian plants and animal, including a wombat and a koala

Philippa Webb, Far North Queensland, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Historical Norfolk Island: Buildings, streetscapes and landscapes

Cardboard slipcase with a simple tree drawn in the lower right corner

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary cover with an orange, white and blue swirl design and large black writing reading 'Norfolk Island 2012' with the 'I' of 'Island' being a tree

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a cow and a chicken on a road going between mountains towards the sea and text reading 'Cows have right of way here'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a building labelled 'Constable's Quarters'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a house surrounded by trees labelled 'Government House'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a street of houses with descriptive names such as 'No Roof' and 'Tern Corner' with text along the bottom of the pages reading 'Before they gave us street numbers!'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of building ruins labelled 'Convict Hospital Ruins'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a chapel labelled 'St Barnabas' Chapel' and a large ship labelled 'The Bounty'

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary back cover with an orange, white and blue swirl design and the name 'Philippa Webb' written on the lower left corner

Philippa Webb, Norfolk Island, 2012, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Majestic Morocco: “Noisy and hot”

Yellow slipcase with black text reading 'Morocco', yellow swirls and red and green dots

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of Morocco streets and architecture

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of Morocco gardens, houses and landscapes

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of camels, Moroccan buildings and a door

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to three pages with black and white illustrations of Moroccan people and streets

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Diary back cover with red and blue inkblots

Philippa Webb, Morocco, May 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Alaskan road trip: “Road trip – great”

Travel diary back cover with a black and white abstract design

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a boat approaching the Alaskan shore and a long line of people walking up a mountain near a train

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of an Alaskan fish market and people on a whale watching trip

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of a bear, killer whale, puffin and sled dogs

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Fold-out travel diary open to four pages with black and white illustrations of otters, birds and mountains in Alaska

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Travel diary cover with a black and white abstract design

Philippa Webb, Alaska, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025959

Unique handmade cases

Incorporating materials collected from her travels, Webb handcrafted slipcases and bags for most of her artist’s diaries. These housings often feature elements that reflect the destinations depicted in the diaries.