Dylan Pietsch spent most of last year's international rugby union season stuck on the sidelines waiting to debut for the Wallabies after having been promised an appearance under advisement from former Australian coach Eddie Jones.

Denied his first cap while biding his time amid multiple training camps and shadow touring parties across an eight-Test match stretch from the opener of the Rugby Championship through to the disastrous end of the 2023 World Cup left Pietsch plenty of time to sketch in Indigenous designs and pull out his painting palette.

The new wave of rising talent has been running his own Wulwaay Art business on the side during the past three years after resettling in Sydney following three years living out of a suitcase on the rugby sevens' world circuit.

The essence of the Wiradjuri man's persona back in Australia is about a lot more than just developing into the hopeful next rugby Test star for the nation.

But rather than just focusing solely on playing the following year for the Wallabies as intently as 2023, the converted winger's mind has already skipped another year head.

Pietsch, who in the 2024 season became the 15th Indigenous Australian to walk into Test rugby in the opening match of the series against Wales in Sydney, also crafts out an artistic tribute to his Country from his Wiradjuri roots.

Commissioned by Rugby Australia that will be launched next year, Pietsch tells a story of the Indigenous history of the land for the 2025 British & Irish Lions series in a historic first that is dating the home nations' away series back to the first British Isles squad to visit Australia all the way back to 1899.

The unique creation of a number of Aboriginal pieces from Pietsch titled Series Identity is set to emphasise the special standing of the tour that includes Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

The narrative of the artwork is largely behind his Wiradjuri ancestral belonging to their mob's Narrungdera land that lies in the Narrandera-Yanco area alongside the Murrumbidgee River.

"The piece of artwork tells a story of connection: my strong connection to our culture, inspired by my mob and special connection to Country, the many forms of connection within Australia through its people and landscapes and powerful opportunity for my sport to create new connections by welcoming and building fresh communities through a common purpose," Pietsch said of the collective works.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to represent myself and my culture in communicating this fantastic event in Australia."

To run out against the iconic British and Irish Lions is all but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, let alone to paint for the series that the 26-year-old will only be eligible for once considering the next series between the two sides isn't scheduled until 2037.

The touring party that is formed with players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland only come together every four years, rotating the Lions' tours between Australia, South Africa and New Zealand across 12-year cycles each.

So more than a year out, Pietsch focused on designs from the perspective of the host nation's defining features: from culture and landmarks to its flora and fauna.

Whether or not he plays for the Wallabies, Pietsch, the proud Indigenous artist, will, at least, leave a lasting mark on the momentous series with the stories behind the artwork that forms the heart and inspiration of the pieces.

The centrepiece of the series is the traditional painting of a wallaby and a lion – the mascots of the two teams – going head to head in anticipation of the impending series.

Pietsch explains in spite of Australia's indifferent form in recent years that it was important for the two distinct animals be on the same level in the painting before the first ball is kicked off.

"You can kind of see that they are running at each other," he says.

"Their relationship is presented as a battle but underpinned by respect; respect for our game and respect for each other.

"In traditional Aboriginal painting, animals are presented with their internal organs omitted.

"This shows the respect that we have for the animals."

Painted on a black backdrop for maximum impact, the wallaby and the lion are surrounded by a series of dots showing the connection between the two rugby teams.

"For the main body of the artwork, I've used the most recognisable style of Indigenous art: dot painting, which has its roots in ancient Australian traditions. The stories told through dot painting are thousands of years old and are passed down through generations," Pietsch said.

"I have been painting using this technique since I was very young and for me its a powerful way to express my own identity, spirituality, and connection to Country."

The series of images exist to inspire players and fans across the world to come together and celebrate, create new stories, as a part of yarning, of their own and share in "extraordinary rugby experiences" that are unique, only, and solely Australian to ensure the 2025 tour will be "something special".

The backdrop to the artwork is made up of a collection of distinct and intricate patterns that portray natural landscapes of Australia.

"I wanted to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Australia and show the deep bond I have with my Country," Pietsch said.

"I've created different patterns to describe some of the physical aspects of our landscape: trees, forests, flood plains, the sea and rivers.

"The river was really important to include – it is a symbol of physical connection; a significant spiritual element for the Aboriginal Dreamtime.

"Our lives revolve around rivers; how we respect the river and how the river provides for us.

"The rainbow serpent holds a central place in Aboriginal Dreamtime stories as creator of the river system that enabled us and other animals to flourish."

Pietsch also demonstrates how the itinerary that includes a further six non-international, tour matches in addition to the three-Test series is incorporated into the art pieces.

The seven 'connection circles' represent the coming together of rugby communities to a special or important place – in primeval Indigenous culture and its past, it symbolises a family meeting at a waterhole, campsite or spiritual place.

"In this piece, the connection circles represents the diverse groups of people from across the world coming to Australia and connecting through sport," Pietsch said.

"The six smaller circles represent the cities that will be visited during the Lions Series.

"The larger connection circle represents Australia and its wider community.

"Each circle is connected through a continuous pathway, binding everyone together."

The tour starts on June 28 against Western Force in Perth with the opening Test match to be played on July 19 in Brisbane.