About

As a Māori artist, my connection to the land runs deep. The whenua (land) is more than just our surroundings — it is part of us. It holds our stories, our roots, our wellbeing.

I was born in Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand. My father was a draughtsman, my mother an artist — creativity was always present in our home. I’ve loved making art for as long as I can remember; it has always felt like a natural way of being.

In my late twenties, I found myself searching for belonging and identity. That journey led me to Te Araroa on the East Cape — the home of my grandmother and our whānau. Visiting my family’s marae and standing before the carvings of my great-uncle, a master carver, was transformative. His detailed linework, rich in story and symbolism, spoke deeply to something in me. It was there that I truly connected with my whakapapa. I came home with a sense of place and purpose I’d never quite felt before. My Māori lineage stretches back over 15 generations, and knowing this grounds me — it’s in my blood, my bones, my work.

The concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship and care for the natural world) has always resonated with me, but it wasn’t until I caught myself rinsing acrylic paint down the sink that something clicked: if I wouldn’t drink this, why would I return it to the earth? That question marked a turning point. From that moment on, I began creating my own pigments from sustainably foraged plant matter — colours born of the land itself.

I now work mainly with these natural pigments and Indian ink, in a contemporary style that mirrors the textures and tones of the natural world. My linework is often inspired by my great-uncle’s carvings — flowing, detailed, meditative. It’s more than a meditation; it’s a way of connecting with my roots, honouring my ancestors, storytelling, and expressing the landscapes I love: ocean, mountains, bush, changing skies.

This slower, more intentional process feels right. Nature is always speaking, always offering inspiration. Whether I’m at the beach, in the forest, or simply observing the change in season, I find endless guidance in the subtlety of its palette — earthy browns, windswept greys, sun-faded greens, the quiet pink of pūriri bark, the ghost of sea-salt on driftwood. These hues guide not only my paintings but also influence the natural palette of my clothing collections.

At the heart of my practice is a desire to live in harmony with nature and its rhythms. In te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), we believe in the importance of mauri (life force), tika (right action), manaaki (care and generosity), and aroha (love). These values guide how I create and how I live.

We cannot have healthy people without a healthy planet. Our own hauora — the wellbeing of body, mind, spirit, and whānau — is deeply tied to the land and water, to the balance of giving and receiving. When we take without giving back, imbalance follows. But when we honour the whenua, tread lightly, and create with intention, we begin to restore harmony — not only around us, but within.

My art is my offering. A reflection of this relationship. A way to honour the land, my ancestors, and the stories that shape me. A gentle reminder that beauty doesn’t need to come at the cost of the earth — it can be part of its healing.