YARRABAH Aboriginal artist Nathan Mundraby is turning his artistic talents from canvas to campervans.

The 31-year-old has scored a full-time job as an artist with Wicked Campers and has already decorated 15 vans with his distinctive designs.

With artwork depicting stories, dancing and teachings passed down by his people through generations, Mr Mundraby uses dot-painting techniques to decorate the vans.

Having left Yarrabah at age 13, he studied art at TAFE and now sells his work at markets and Far Northern art galleries.

While painting vans may seem an odd job, Mr Mundraby said it was not the first time he had decorated forms of transport.

"I’ve painted Aboriginal art on night club walls in fluoro colours to make it glow in the dark," he said.

"I’ve done tattoos, hotels and even a yacht. And it’s great to be making a living from my art now."

Wicked owner John Webb said travellers had already expressed interest in hiring the campervans painted by Mr Mundraby.

"It’s great for tourism and promoting our Aboriginal culture," he said.

"The campervans are like a mobile art gallery for Nathan’s art."

Mr Mundraby’s Aboriginal artwork will be a change for Wicked, which has copped criticism in the past for racy slogans and images painted on the side of the popular vans.

In September 2008, the Advertising Standards Board upheld two complaints about Wicked in relation to the slogans "Save a whale – harpoon a Jap" and "Lick my …" which was written in Japanese.

It found the slogans breached sections of the Advertiser Code of Ethics.

The vans were being driven around Cairns when complaints were made to the ASB from anti-discrimination authorities, Greenpeace and the city’s Japan-Australia Alliance.

Premier Anna Bligh also became embroiled in the controversy, describing the harpoon slogan as "totally
offensive".

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