Brentos
World Creators
Brentos is a creative ‘hybrid’ business that sits somewhere between illustration, art, product design and publishing.
Q & A by Doug Clark
Brent and Tash
Brent Turner (The Creative) and Tash Leemburg (Operations) are growing a Northern Beaches business that is global in reach and local in nature. We chatted with Brent about the business of Brentos.
How would you describe Brentos?
Brent is a creative “hybrid” business that sits somewhere between illustration, art, product design and publishing. Everything starts as a sketch, usually on my iPad, and depending on the project, it might end up as a picture book page, a painted canvas, a surfboard, a beer can, a t-shirt, or even a mural. My style is very illustrative and translates well into the commercial and design worlds. Alongside our own books and merchandise, we often collaborate with brands on campaigns or co-branded product ranges. No matter the format, I try to inject a sense of quirky Australiana and humour into the work, while quietly championing our natural world and native animals through my characters.
When did the business start? How did it evolve?
Brentos really began around 2015 when I started doodling on my iPad. I was spending time at B-Side Creative Space in Brookvale, surrounded by other artists, and they taught me how to mix colours and paint. Eventually, I painted a psychedelic one-eyed cactus in a pastel palette, signed it with my nickname “Brentos,” and the name stuck.
At the time, I was working as a freelance graphic designer, so turning my digital doodles into physical paintings felt new and exciting. I started releasing the occasional print or t-shirt and donating profits to WIRES. What began as a fun hobby slowly evolved into my full-time creative focus.
Early collaborations and projects.
As I kept painting, small collaborations started to come in, often with local brands and non-profits. Some early highlights included:
Co-branded t-shirts with Pittwater Eco Adventures to raise awareness about plastic waste in Manly Cove.
A pastel skateboard range with Sweetheart Skateboards.
Artwork for a Yugen Surfboard ridden by pro surfer Matt Wilkinson in a Surfing Life feature.
A beer collaboration with Bucketty’s Brewery and The Tawny Frogmouth that raised $10,000 for WIRES and Sydney Wildlife.
Murals and public work
In 2019, I painted my first mural at Bondi Beach. I was learning on the job, and looking back it was pretty rough, but the community absolutely embraced it.
Not long after, I painted a 50-metre all-over tunnel mural in a Manly carpark with a lot of help from my mate Ken, which was a huge learning experience. Around the same time, I also created a B-Line bus stop installation in Manly Vale for Transport for NSW.
A real turning point came when Coopers Brewery approached me to create campaign visuals that were turned into murals across pubs around Australia, including their airport bars in Adelaide and Sydney. That project helped me realise it was possible to build a career as a contemporary commercial illustrator.
From there, collaborations snowballed with brands like Peter Alexander and Hallmark.
Publishing and growth
Not long after, I received a DM from a publisher asking if I’d ever consider illustrating a children’s book — something I’d always dreamed about. It was an easy yes, and I’ve since become a children’s book author and illustrator, with several books published and more on the way. My style has softened over time through working on books, but there’s still a psychedelic off-shoot that shows up on beer cans, murals, and other projects.
The role of Tash and the shift to products
In 2021, my fiancée Tash joined the business, which allowed us to focus on building our own product range. We started selling prints and merchandise at Manly Markets, which was a great way to get direct feedback from customers. We’ve since done pop-ups and design markets at places like Handmade Canberra, Finders Keepers, and the Big Design Market. As our ecommerce side continues to grow, we’re gradually pulling back from markets to focus on online growth.
Our business ethos
At its core, Brentos is about creating joyful, accessible artwork that celebrates Australian wildlife, landscapes, and culture, often with a cheeky twist. Whether it’s a book, mural, or product, the goal is always to make something that connects with people while quietly promoting appreciation for the natural world.
As for inspirations, being a ’90s kid, I grew up on vintage Mambo graphics, Rugrats, Ken Done, and classics like May Gibbs. My visual style is probably a big swirl of those influences, mixed with soft pastel colours and a modern illustrative approach.
What have been your main influences and inspirations?
A big influence is the natural world, especially our native animals. Australia is full of strange, funny, quirky, and beautiful creatures, it’s no wonder so many artists draw inspiration from them.
Where else can you find a regal bird that laugh screams, a black-and- white bird that terrorises entire suburbs in spring, or possums that sound like aliens fighting in your roof?
I love painting Australian animals and landscapes in my style. Even though the work is often cheeky and joyful, the message underneath is about showing people how special these places and creatures are, and why they are worth celebrating.
What plans do you have for Brentos in 2026?
This year we are releasing four colouring books with my publisher, and we are doubling down on our own product and merchandise ranges, which have been growing steadily. On the art side, I’m hoping to have more time for creativity (instead of production) and I’d love to paint and release some more paintings.
Tash and I are finally comfortable leaning into the idea of Brentos as a creative hybrid business, and 2026 is all about building on that and continuing to share our products, paintings and stories with the world.
