WA artist Lori Pensini captures the human toll of drought in the South West

When the dams on Lori Pensini's Boyup Brook property dried up and the underground springs stopped flowing she faced the unexpected human toll of drought in a region known for its stable rainfall.

"This is the land of milk and honey. It always rains down here," she said.

"When the drought came through we had some really, really challenging times."

The 2023-24 summer was the driest on record for parts of South West WA.

Ms Pensini, who is an artist and grazier, found inspiration in her struggles, painting an award-winning piece she called Bare Earth.

It is about the toll of drought and the quiet resilience of her community.

"I basically paint from lived experience and observation,"

she said.

At the centre of the painting is her friend Kirsten, holding an orphaned lamb — one of the few