Artistic Approach:

I'm a botanical and natural history artist living just outside the small town of Riverhead, about 25 kms north west of Auckland. Surrounded by farmland and native bush I have the natural world at my fingertips and have an endless supply of amazing flora and fauna to keep me painting and drawing for years.

I am intrigued by and love painting the intricate details of plants and natural objects I find. It's often the overlooked, non perfect, often past their prime specimens that draw me in. Through careful observation, drawing and painting I have learnt so much about the natural world around me and hope that you, the viewer, will be drawn in to appreciate its complexity and beauty. Sketchbooks are an important part of my art practice - I love sketching out in the field, documenting what I see.

Watercolour is my medium of choice, as the transparent quality of watercolour allows me to add many glazes which not only bring a richness and depth of colour to my work, but a softness too when needed. I am intrigued by all the tiny details and the flexibility of watercolour allows me to capture these.

I also enjoy working in graphite and ink and recently begun working on vellum which involves a whole new skill set.

Affiliations:

President: BASNZ - Botanical Art Society of New Zealand - 2019 to present
Member: ASBA - American Society of Botanical Artists
Member: Watercolour New Zealand
Facilitator: Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens Painting Group 2015 to present
Tutor: Fernglen Art Group, Kumeu Arts Botanical Art Group
Tutor: The Seasons Art Class - Stand in tutor

Education:

Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) Diploma in Botanical Art (Dist)
BA Hons 1st Class - Graphic Design (Scientific Illustration) Middlesex Polytechnic UK
Chelsea School of Art - Art Foundation course

Exhibitions:

2023

‘Hidden Secrets’ - Auckland Botanic Gardens

2022

'Botanica' - Welcome Swallow Gallery, Hamilton
'The Art of Healing - Medicine, Myth and Magic' - Auckland Botanic Gardens

2021

May - ‘For the Love Of Botanical’ - Space Studio and Gallery, Whanganui

2020

November - ‘Botanical Art’ - Space Studio Gallery, Wanganui
September - SOLO Exhibition ‘Botanical Works’, Kumeu Arts, Kumeu, Auckland
September - 'Overwintering Project' - Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa
September - 'Small Works, BIG ideas' - members exhibition, Kumeu Arts, Kumeu , Auckland
August - 'A Big Show of Little Botanical Works 2020' - Annual exhibition BASNZ members, Auckland Botanic Gardens
May - 'Creativity Unlocked' - Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens Art Group annual exhibition May - 'Lockdown Art' - Kumeu Arts - members exhibition

2019

October - 'BOTANICA 2019' - Annual exhibition BASNZ members, Chamber Gallery, Rangiora Library, Christchurch
August - 'In Memory of Banks and Solander' - Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens Art Group annual exhibition July - 'Drawn In' - Members Drawing Exhibition - Kumeu Arts

2018

March - ‘Botanical Art Worldwide - Nga Tipu Taketake – Indigenous Flora’, Auckland Botanical Gardens, Wellington Botanic Gardens and Millennium Public Gallery, Blenheim
March - 'BOTANICA 2018', Annual exhibition BASNZ members, Akaroa Art Gallery, Christchurch

2017

November - ‘Under $500 Art Sale’, Estuary Art Centre, Auckland
November - ‘Affordable Art’ Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
November - 'Kumeu Art Awards' - Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
October - ‘Weird and Wonderful’ - Group exhibition, Auckland Botanic Gardens January - ‘Tree Lines’ - Group exhibition, Cornwall Park, Auckland

2016

December - ‘Affordable Arts' Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
December - ‘Affordable Art' Lake House Art Centre, Takapuna, Auckland
October - 'Seasons' - Auckland Botanic Gardens,
August - 'Taking Flight' Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
July - Fundraiser exhibition - Ponsonby Cruising Club, Auckland
June - 'NZ Art Show' Solo Panel Artist, ASB Centre, Wellington
January - 'Art Movements' Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
January - 'Solo Exhibition' Art on Track Gallery, Helensville, Auckland

2015

December - ‘Affordable Arts' Kumeu Art Centre, Auckland
October - ‘Big Show of Little Works' The Tin Palace Gallery, Lyttelton, Wellington

2014

August - 'The Annual Great Art Sale' Lake House Arts, Takapuna, Auckland