I am a Kai Tahu māori artist, born and raised in Dunedin, surrounded by the Tikanga of my tipuna.

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Throughout my own school years I loved art and took art at high school and art history at university.

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Originally a primary school teacher in Oamaru, I spent much of my teaching career teaching young people how to create art works and fostering their love of art.

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Between 2000 and 2014 I spent each Wednesday evening travelling to Dunedin to night classes at the Otago Polytechnic for Life Drawing and Printmaking, here my love of print making was cemented.

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In 2015, I had the opportunity to complete a post graduate diploma in Printmaking at the Otago Polytechnic. 

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Upon returning to school and teaching I felt that my own passion for art was once again being sidelined and so left teaching to pursue my own career as a fulltime artist.

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After a conversation with a friend of mine, who had recently bought a group of shops in Wansbeck Street, Oamaru. I was invited  to join him in creating a studio and Gallery in the building. 

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I worked from 'The Terraces Art Gallery' from 2016 through to 2023, Working in this space created many opportunities for ideas to develop and prints to be created.

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I have had a solo exhibition at the Forrester Gallery in Oamaru, Have been part of a collaboration Te Piwakawaka (with Tyler Kennedy Stent) which has had exhibitions at The Artists Room in Dunedin and work can be found gracing the walls in homes internationally 

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In 2024 I relocated to beautiful Lake Hawea where I have set up a studio, working from my home.

 

Michelle Chalkin has encouraged me as an artist and my art can be viewed at 'The Artists Room' in Dowling Street, Dunedin. But I can also be contacted directly through my email address four-bells@xtra.com.nz

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nga mihi 

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Al

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