"Solar Eclipse" Painting

I live and work in rural Waikato, painting from my studio overlooking Mount Pirongia. The surrounding land, weather, and shifting light are constant influences in my work. My paintings explore landscape as both a physical place and an emotional space — familiar yet slightly altered, grounded yet dreamlike. Using fluid acrylics and layered translucent colour, I build depth, movement, and atmosphere, shaping each work through a balance of flow and control. While the process allows for chance, every painting is carefully resolved to create a cohesive, intentional image. The Horizon Series draws on elements of Magical Realism, placing recognisable forms within expansive land, sea, and sky to invite quiet reflection and a sense of discovery. Subtle narrative details — figures, animals, or symbolic elements — often emerge on closer viewing, rewarding time and attention. Alongside these works, I have begun exploring abstract botanicals, responding to the rhythms and energy of the natural world through looser, more expressive mark-making. Other bodies of work include Hidden Mountains, where landscape becomes a vessel for local myth, native birds, and symbolic presence, and Symbolism, which addresses social, political, and environmental themes through mixed media and collage. Sustainability is an increasingly important part of my practice. I make conscious decisions about materials and processes, seeing this as a natural extension of my relationship with the environments that inspire my work. I have worked full-time as an artist since 2019. My paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout Aotearoa, and was the recipient of the Liquitex NZ Art Award at The Wellington Art Show 2026. My work is held in private collections in New Zealand and internationally.