Local People: Bec Hopson

by Hobart Magazine

Under the alias Pablo Pandani, Bec Hopson is a creative artist who hand draws beautiful house portraits, and she just wrote and illustrated a children’s book.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I’m originally from Cooma in the Snowy Mountains of NSW and moved around a lot until my family settled in Tassie when I was 14.

What’s the meaning behind your pseudonym, Pablo Pandani? Pablo is a nod to Pablo Picasso, and Pandani represents my home (the pandani is a unique Tasmanian plant).

How did you start creating custom house portraits? During the pandemic I took a course in urban travel sketching with ink and watercolour. I loved creating artworks that evoked a fun memory – like the bright orange Tokyo restaurant I stumbled into after late-night karaoke in 2011. Having an original painting was so much more interesting than a photo of the place and sparked a lot of conversations, which meant I could tell my funny travel stories more. Pretty soon people were asking me to paint their homes and I realised how sentimental this was. Having an artist capture all the little details of your home in watercolour makes people feel special, and they are quite meaningful gifts. Clients were gifting my portraits for birthdays, anniversaries, settlements, and even bereavements, and the recipients were often overwhelmed with emotion. I like to say that I paint happy places, and sometimes I make people cry.

Which buildings in Hobart do you particularly enjoy illustrating? I actually love painting shops/restaurants and really want to do more! Hobart has such interesting architecture – bold and colourful frontages intermingled with older heritage features.

You recently published a children’s picture book, Dinosaurs Can’t Wear Yellow. What motivated you to create a picture book, and how did this story come to life? This book is for my son Ari. On maternity leave I wanted a project that had nothing to do with my legal career, or being a new parent, and decided that making a picture book would be creative and challenging. It’s a rhyming story, and the illustrations are quite bright and a bit silly. I was inspired by a Brene Brown quote: “if I have to be like you I just fit in, but if I get to be me then I truly belong”. My book teaches children the importance of both staying true to yourself, and also finding the right group of friends that lets you shine. And it comes with a bonus singalong!

Who do you admire? Bri Lee (author of Eggshell Skull), for so many reasons. She spoke in Hobart recently about her ten-year plan for turning herself from a lawyer into an author / public intellectual and I find it inspiring that someone around my age has committed to such a major life shift – it’s audacious and courageous! I’m trying to do the same thing on a much smaller scale and can now call myself an author and an artist as well as a legal professional.

Favourite podcast or tv show? I’m bingeing the Shandee’s Story podcast – it’s even better than The Teacher’s Pet! Australian TV is making me laugh right now – I recommend Fisk and Colin From Accounts.

Secret vice? A large cappuccino in the morning and a lot of ice cream at night.

What are you reading now? Julia Fox’s memoir and Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton.

Do you have any pets? I have a seven year old groodle called Hopey Jane. She’s the only dog I know who is allowed to sleep on the bed but chooses not to.

What was your first job? McDonald’s Kingston. Back in my day, we flurried the McFlurrys!

What are your daily news/social media habits? Instagram is where I spend my time on socials – it’s great for sharing my work visually and connecting with my community.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Eggs benny at BoHo at the Beach.

Lunch: Yum cha at Hometown Secret.

Dinner: Anywhere with a chef’s menu and a good cocktail list. Pancho Villa is a standing favourite and Maria was a recent special treat!

Favourite team? Sorry I am not a sports person.

Dream holiday destination? I’d love to go back to Egypt and take my whole family. It’s a spectacular place with the most amazing history on earth.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? A drive along the Southern Edge journey in summer. Bring coins – you can buy bread, berries, cherries, honey and flowers, all on the side of the road, as long as you have cash.

Parting words? Read a book to your children every day! If anyone wants to chat after reading this, my website is www.pablopandani.com.au and my Instagram is @pablopandani.

Love this

Extras

Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

Bits and Pieces- June 2026

Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

Bits and Pieces – May 2026

Bits and Pieces- May 2026

Stay up to date with everything happening at the Hobart Magazine.

Worker shortage is currently universal, there isn’t an industry that’s exempt. For Kelvin Smith, four years ago he decided there was a very obvious solution to the shortage facing the construction industry, and all that was needed was a little time, empathy and a helping hand. Integrate Workforce is a Hobart-based labour company with one requirement: a refugee/ migrant background. He’s also the outdoor piano man in his free time.

Landscape artist and creative Elliott Nimmo is enjoying discovering Hobart’s vibrant art scene and local environment after relocating here from London to pursue his art.

Even though Tasmania is known for its mild summers, it doesn’t take much to get sunburnt. Tasmania experiences extreme ultraviolet (UV) levels, but contrary to popular belief this isn’t due to the hole in the ozone layer, which is actually south of the continent.While higher UV levels often occur at the same time as higher temperatures, the two are not linked. Instead, UV levels are determined by the angle of the sun in the sky: the higher the sun, the higher the UV. In December and January, the position of the sun over Tasmania gives the state a UV index of 11 or more on most days, which is classified as “extreme” on the UV index. Tasmania’s lack of humidity and generally clear skies contribute to the stinging feeling of the sun. UV can reflect off buildings and water, making it possible to get a higher dose of UV from these reflected rays, even in the shade.

Setting up shop during a pandemic was a risky move, but if the crowd at Dāna Eating House (Dāna) on a Friday night is anything to go by, it’s one that’s paid off. With tables of diners chatting and laughing over drinks, the music and conversation buzzes off the monstera-leaf-green walls. Low-hanging rattan lights and worn wooden floorboards give the newly opened South-East Asian fusion venue in Hobart’s CBD a relaxed vibe.

A Holyman flagged ship hasn’t steamed up the River Derwent since 1984 but the company’s name still proudly adorns its former offices at 5 Morrison Street, Hobart.

Widening the Tasman Bridge to allow 3.5 metres on each side is a big win for walkers and cyclists.

Need a laugh? Check out @theinspiredunemployed feed on Instagram.

Rain, hail and shine, the school crossing guards are always there to help with a smile on their face.

It’s hard to believe it’s not standard practice to have a working phone in every aged care room - shared phones make private conversations impossible and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Just when you think your cousins are alright. NZ Opposition Leader Judith Collins took aim at Tassie during her recent (unsuccessful) campaign, calling us Australia’s “poor cousin.” She also seems worried about us nabbing tech businesses, “It’s a lovely part of the world but do you necessarily want to go there with your high- tech business? Possibly not,” she said. We beg to differ!