The Pied Piper of….

“The Pied Piper: Ian Hamlin” is a pencil drawing by Morris Campbell, its one of the artworks in the exhibition of my Wellington students opening on Monday Night at 6pm….it’s a great show and I’d love to see you there – at the Hutt Art Society! Views of the show…. Its fantastic to see the fruits of… Continue reading The Pied Piper of….

Standing Tall

For those who never made it home….we remember. My great uncle Frank was one of those. My Grandfather’s younger brother, he emigrated with the family to New Zealand from Gloucestershire in 1905 as a sixteen year old. A musician and like his brothers and my father, was a farmer from Rongotea. ‘But all that my mind sees… Continue reading Standing Tall

Behind the Black Door

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been invited behind the Black Door! After a bit of a break from the bright lights of Auckland, my paintings can now be found in the Black Door Gallery in Parnell. Its great to be represented up there again, so if you’re in the area pop in and make… Continue reading Behind the Black Door

On the spot 

I was honoured last week to be invited to be the guest Judge of the Fielding and Districts Art Society Annual exhibition. The  show includes an ANZAC commemorative section called “Fields of Dreams”. The standard of submissions was impressive and it was no easy matter to decide the section winners, this is a selection of… Continue reading On the spot 

Looking after our mother

In a strenuous but joyful gesture of renewal over the Easter break, we got there in the end and planted the 239 trees provided by the ‘Trees for Travel’ scheme.           It is now raining steadily, as requested, to give them the best possible start in their new life! A return trip to San Francisco from… Continue reading Looking after our mother

Giving back

We’re back at Hou Ngahere for a week of tree planting….. Our Diamond Approach retreat group, the IRG, has committed to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions used in attending the two retreats in California each year. Called “Trees for Travel“, the scheme really has something tangible to show for it now with the… Continue reading Giving back

The Altar of this Moment

As I set off walking the dog this morning there was a quiet stillness in the air and the sky was on fire. We went down the hill to the beach. Kuri loves the beach its something about the vital energy there that seems to bring out her inner puppy and she plays in the washed… Continue reading The Altar of this Moment

When you’re ready….

Its always good to reconnect with my paintings  theyre so much a part of me. Even if they’re looking a little sad!   I’ve just had this painting sent back to me by its owner in Christchurch. It was damaged in the earthquakes down there. Fortunately the damage was relatively minor and limited to around the… Continue reading When you’re ready….

The Mapua inspiration…

My first trip to Mapua was an inspiration. A very pretty coastal village near Nelson set the scene for the first of what looks likely to be a monthly painting class. The class was the result of the persistence of one of my former Wellington students, now a very fine artist in her own right,… Continue reading The Mapua inspiration…

To love again.

“Into the Light” – Punakaiki West Coast, oil on canvas, 37 x 75cm I spent three days waiting in the pouring rain for some sun, early the next day I was returning to Wellington. Right at the end of the last day there was light – just for an hour, but it was magic…..it was… Continue reading To love again.