Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of drug use, addiction and death. Support is available: LifeLine. 

Wendy Whiteley has spent more than 30 years protecting the legacy of a man whom she loved deeply. In this candid episode of The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, the artist, gardener and first-time podcast guest joins Tiffany Dunk to reflect on her extraordinary life with, and after, Brett Whiteley. 

Wendy shares how a blind date led her to Brett, becoming his muse, and building a bohemian life together across London, Florence and New York. She opens up about the addiction that consumed them both for over a decade, the arrival of their daughter Arkie, her later death from cancer, and the moment Wendy finally chose to get clean for good. 

She also reflects on how she found out Brett had died, how she turned her grief into Wendy's Secret Garden, and how the loss of her daughter years later tested her all over again. 

Plus, Wendy shares what she's still building today at the newly reopened Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney. 

Moments you’ll hear: 
Wendy's unfiltered thoughts on love, hate and duality 
What love looked like growing up, and ‘running away’ from home at 12 
The blind date that led her to meet Brett Whiteley 
Becoming his muse, and moving to Europe for their art education 
Marrying at 21 and living on next to nothing as young artists 
The arrival of daughter Arkie, and how it changed their relationship 
How casual drug use in the 60s spiralled into over a decade of addiction 
The day Wendy learned Brett had died, and how she channeled her grief into a garden 
Rebuilding her bond with Arkie in London, and the sudden loss that changed everything again 
Why she's spent over 30 years preserving Brett's studio exactly as he left it 
What love looks like for Wendy today 

Photo Credits: Brett Whiteley Studio archive, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales 

This story contains descriptions of drug use and addiction. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline for free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015. If you are in immediate danger, call 000. 

Thank you for listening ❤️ 

Before you leave... 

🗣️ Get in touch 

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at www.womensweekly.com.au  

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au 

If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽 

Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin 

Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au 

Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now! 

Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes. 

You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice 

Credits: 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Leah Porges 

Production by Leah Porges 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website 

Content Warning: This story&nbsp;contains&nbsp;descriptions of drug&nbsp;use,&nbsp;addiction&nbsp;and death. Support is available:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">LifeLine</a>.&nbsp;
Wendy Whiteley has spent more than 30 years protecting the legacy of a man whom she loved deeply. In this candid episode of&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, the artist,&nbsp;gardener&nbsp;and first-time podcast guest joins Tiffany Dunk to reflect on her extraordinary life with, and after, Brett Whiteley.&nbsp;
Wendy shares how a blind date led her to Brett, becoming his muse, and building a bohemian life together across London,&nbsp;Florence&nbsp;and New York. She&nbsp;opens up&nbsp;about the addiction that consumed them both for over a decade, the arrival of their daughter Arkie,&nbsp;her later death from cancer,&nbsp;and the moment&nbsp;Wendy&nbsp;finally chose to get clean for good.&nbsp;
She also reflects on how she found out Brett had died, how she turned her grief into Wendy's Secret Garden, and&nbsp;how the loss of her daughter&nbsp;years later&nbsp;tested&nbsp;her all over again.&nbsp;
Plus, Wendy&nbsp;shares&nbsp;what&nbsp;she's&nbsp;still building today at the newly reopened Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Wendy's unfiltered thoughts on love,&nbsp;hate&nbsp;and duality&nbsp;</li>
<li>What love looked like growing up, and &lsquo;running away&rsquo; from home at 12&nbsp;</li>
<li>The blind date that led her to meet Brett Whiteley&nbsp;</li>
<li>Becoming his muse, and moving to Europe for their art education&nbsp;</li>
<li>Marrying at 21 and living&nbsp;on next to nothing&nbsp;as young artists&nbsp;</li>
<li>The arrival of daughter Arkie, and how it changed their relationship&nbsp;</li>
<li>How casual drug use in the 60s&nbsp;spiralled&nbsp;into over a decade of addiction&nbsp;</li>
<li>The day Wendy learned Brett had died, and how she&nbsp;channeled&nbsp;her grief into a garden&nbsp;</li>
<li>Rebuilding her bond with Arkie&nbsp;in London, and the sudden loss that changed everything again&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why&nbsp;she's&nbsp;spent over 30 years preserving Brett's studio exactly as he left it&nbsp;</li>
<li>What love looks like for Wendy today&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Photo Credits: Brett Whiteley Studio archive, image &copy; Art Gallery of New South Wales&nbsp;
This story contains descriptions of drug use and addiction. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline for free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.&nbsp;
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media please tag us,&nbsp;we're&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;
Our special thanks to our partners at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">Vixin</a>&nbsp;real results, simple skincare&nbsp;that's&nbsp;a little bit fancy:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">vixin.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now!&nbsp;
Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes.&nbsp;
You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to current Australian&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Force members,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their families by donating at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservie">www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by Leah Porges&nbsp;
Production by Leah Porges&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">The Australian Women's Weekly website</a>&nbsp;

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

Long before she became the keeper of Brett Whiteley's legacy, Wendy Whiteley was his muse, and for over a decade, his partner through an addiction that consumed them both. In her first-ever podcast interview, she joins Tiffany Dunk to talk about the love that shaped her life, and the garden that helped her rebuild a sense of self. 