The star of the beach, the asterisk-shaped seed head of the Spinifex grass (or Kowhangatara) tumbling along the beach bring back precious memories of warm, sunny days spent at the beach.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints - image size 247x247mm

 

 This print depicts a Nikau on the edge of the sea, fronds wild in the breeze and ripe with berries - in a water colour technique. 

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art paper prints - image size 225x350mm

 

This is a print from a painting I have just finished. It depicts a view from Urupukapuka island overlooking the Waewaetorea channel to Waewaetorea island in - New Zealand's northland - the beautiful Bay of Islands. This area is special to me, it's where I grew up as a child and where my family have lived for generations.

Original painting available on my painting page for $4,900.

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints

 

The famous Greg - a Takehe of Tiritiri Matangi island. 

I was once fortunate enough to meet Greg when I visited the island - which lies in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints - image size 350x230mm

 

The Puka (Meryta sinclairii) pictured, a beautiful tree that I simply love - is a large-leaved evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand that grows to about 8 meters tall. Puka have 27 different species, and occur naturally on the Three Kings islands and the Hen and Chicken islands. The tree has elliptical leaves which can grow up to 50 cm long and 20cm wide and have a glossy upper surface with green-white flowers and ball-bearing sized fruit, making them popular as a garden or street tree. A single tree procured from the Poor Knights Islands by Māori, protected by a fence and declared sacred. Was... [view details]

My eagerness to visit Mimiwhangata, a stunning part of New Zealand’s eastern coastline, came after seeing it in a photograph. Escaping from Auckland on a day trip one Sunday back in 2005, I headed north. After going through Whangarei, I headed towards Helena Bay, gradually drawing closer to Mimiwhangata. Winding down through native bush into grasslands, I was excited to finally see the windswept coastline in the distance. Mimiwhangata was at long last in my sights, and the long drive was well worth the breathtaking panorama that lay before me. I wished to see the ocean and islands fro... [view details]

For me Kowhai are bells that cheerfully herald the coming of summer. Pictured here with a back drop of Ponui island with a definitive pacific palette of colour caught in strong southern hemisphere light. The kowhai is a native New Zealand tree and our unofficial national flower. Well known for their brilliant yellow flowers that appear in abundance in spring, kowhai provide a feast for New Zealand native birds such as the Tui, Bellbird and New Zealand pigeon the Kereru. Maori also value the tree for its hard wood and medicinal properties. • Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art pri... [view details]

The beautiful Kereru - New Zealand's native pigeon - perched on the top of a guava tree having lunch.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints - image size 316x316mm

 

 

This old seemingly forgotten boat sitting in clear calm lilac water provided me a quiet focal point and reflective space on which to meditate and became inspiration for a painting. In the background Ti Point and Omaha, close to Leigh and Goat Island lie across the water, under a wide blue sky.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints - image size 316x316mm

 

The asterisk-shaped seed heads of the silvery green Spinifex grass (or Kowhangatara) – pictured - rolling along the beach, blown by the wind, with accompanying deep-water green and blues, white surf, and wide sky are for me associated with idyllic moments on west coast beaches, sun, paradise found, and a sense of wild serenity.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 

 

 

Perhaps my favourite bird - the Tui are boisterous, and widespread in both forest and suburbia. From a distance they seem black but seen closer and in a good light the Tui have a blue, green and bronze iridescent sheen, with distinctive white tufts at their throat. They can be heard singing complex songs - notes interspersed with coughs, grunts and wheezes. Listening to their many songs is a pleasure and watching them in flight, with their bodies slanting in short glides - a joy.

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 

I really enjoyed bringing all these rich colours together - its the New Zealand I grew up with and love - hence the name "New Zealand". The original painting is sold.

 

• Limited edition of 250 hand signed fine-art prints 

An array of Pohutukawa flowers sits above Mita Bay - at Mahurangi West - with the headland of Big Bay and Saddle island (Te Haupa island) in the distance. This poem by Rumi seemed a fitting state of mind and heart as I was there on this day in this place. "What a day today. There are two Suns rising! What a day, Not like any other day. Look! The Light is shining in your heart, The wheel of Life has stopped. Oh, you who can see into your own heart, What a day, This is your day." —  Rumi

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 
• Original painting 1040x790mm $9500 available

 This print depicts Agapanthus flowers (or Aggies for short) growing in front of Rangitoto island (Rangi) just east of Auckland city.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art paper prints - image size 500x246mm

 

While lying on the grass looking up through the branches of a beautiful pohutukawa tree in full bloom these orbs of light among the branches and flowers is what I saw. This print can be either hung horizontally or vertically depending on your wall space.

Original painting available for $2,900.00 on painting page

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints - image size 924x200mm

 

This is a print from my latest big painting which I've called "To Life" - after watching the documentary on Oliver Sacks. An amazing man and great doco depicting his life. 

The landscape background is Ponui island as viewed from the back of Waiheke Island, and the flowers of course Pohutukawa - maybe my favourite flower. Whether framed on paper or canvas this work stands out like a beautiful window looking out onto a summer's day on any wall.

This print of a nikau with a landscape of Whangaruru harbour reflects the tranquility I felt on a summer's day looking out on this beautiful view - hence the name "Solace" - the solace to be found amidst the natural environment of New Zealand.

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 
• This painting is the cover image of a 2019 book by Wendy Parkins "Every Morning, So Far, I'm Alive", published by Otago University Press

This stunning flower print is an explosion of pure joy, it's bright colours making a gorgeous statement on any wall.

 

 

This print depicts Lion Rock at Piha beach - an iconic landmark. Lion Rock sits between Piha and North Piha beaches, offering anyone who climbs it amazing views in all directions.

To Te Kawerau, Lion Rock was known as Te Piha, which is what the beach is now named. Te Piha referred to the patterns of waves separating and breaking on the front of the rock, like on the prow of a canoe.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 

 

Manarola is a small town, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria in northern Italy. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists. I painted this work as a commission and the study involved in painting this beautiful place draws me to visit this part of the world.

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints

 

 This print depicts a sun drenched bach from yesteryear complete with washing hung out on a make shift clothes line - in a water colour technique. 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art paper prints - image size 500x311mm

 This print depicts the sea splashing over the rocks at stunning Little Barrier Island (Te Hauturu-o-Toi), with pohutukawa trees extending across the point in the distance - this work utilises a water colour technique. 

 

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art paper prints - image size 500x314mm

 

This print depicts the beautiful Ponui Island located to the southeast of Waiheke Island, at the eastern end of the Tamaki Strait (which separates the island from the Hunua Ranges on the mainland to the south). The rocks on the lower part of the painting show different aspects of light on form, light on form and water being my focus in my work for the original painting.

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints

Paua shells and Kete.

• Limited edition of 200 hand signed fine-art prints 
• Original painting 1010x500mm $4,500 available