About Us

“Our dream was quite simple: to have a space that allowed us the freedom to be creative while offering something original, sweet and within reach every time you visit.” - John & Emma

Sweets Workshop is the Art Gallery & Studio of illustrators John D-C & EmmaJane.

We have a strong focus on creating Australian Made Art, Including: T-Shirts, Art Prints, Souvenirs, Homewares, Decorative Objects, Giftware, Independent Publications & Stationery.

For 13 years Sweets Workshop has celebrated all things local in particular our colourful home ground, Summer Hill in Sydney’s vibrant Inner West. We are Shop 4 of the Penalt Building, a beautiful and historically significant art deco building, constructed in 1939.

John D-C

I am a Sydney based artist, Illustrator, graphic designer, toy maker and the creator of Pizza Dude - everyone’s favourtie pizza themed superhero.

I write, draw and produce: comic books, zines, art prints, pins and handmade toys.

My super powered, fun, far out fiction is filled with colourful references to popular culture. These are taken from my many hobbies and interests which usually include a healthy combination of retro comic books, 1980’s cinema, rock and roll music, vintage action figures, 1950’s movie posters my Maltese heritage and Saturday morning cartoons.

Recently I created a series of handmade wooden toys called “Wood Heads”. These one of a kind Plastic Free Inaction Figures are representations of pop culture icons that are handmade (out of sustainably sourced birch timber) and hand painted by me.

My work has been my exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, London and I am currently a regular feature artist in the USA at the prestigious Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles.

I have facilitated many zine making, illustration and character creation workshops for school aged children across Sydney, inspiring and nurturing the next generation of artists and creators.

I was a dual finalist in the 2014 Desktop Create Awards in the Illustration category for my work on Pack of Heroes: A Superhero Card Game and The Red River Shore: Wild, Wild Wind Album Cover. I was also a finalist in the 2014 Sydney Design Awards in the Illustration and Typography category again for my work on Pack of Heroes: A Superhero Card Game.

In 2015 I received a Highly Commended Award in the Institutional - Series Category from Illustrators Australia for my illustration work on the genre bookmarks for Ashfield Library through Ashfield/Inner West Council.

Emma Simmons
I am a Sydney-based illustrator and graphic designer who is always looking for opportunities to draw some more. I initially started illustrating as a form of record keeping. There were iconic shop fronts, buildings and streetscapes that I was drawn to and wanted to document before they disappeared. In my illustrations I try to capture the nostalgic spirit of some of Sydney’s icons that are familiar to us all.

I have had several exhibitions in Sydney, with several pieces being acquired for the Ashfield Historic Society and the City of Sydney’s Civic Collection.

My illustrations are created with hand-drawn ink or pencil line work, a splash of watercolour and digitally collaged with collected textures and fabrics.