Some of our Artists for 2026

Originally from the UK, Emma has now made Reefton her home. Not only is the beauty of this area, and the creative community, a big draw to her but also the amazing local trails. Emma has a passion for ultra-marathon running and also hold a few world records for endurance events. When she’s not being creative you’ll find her in the wilderness. Emma’s art is a mixture of detailed pencil drawings and bright, bold paintings. She takes inspiration from the natural environment and colour combinations she finds on her explorations. Please take your time enjoying her work.

​Using fabric - both hand dyed and painted and assorted commercial fabrics and hand stitching, I explore the local landscapes - it's various forms and colors - and the flowers in my back garden.Once again accompany me to Art in the Park will be the Tika tribe, with the new kids - pocket Tikas. All are always ready to listen or give a hug.My work can be seen at my home studio in Hokitika - 170 Gibson Quay or on Facebook or Instagram janetgawnart.

"My creative practice involves research, processing and un-processing. My interest is to do with who we are, how we intertwine and weave our way through the complexity of relationships with ourselves, each other, objects and the world around us. Reality and unreality collide or sometimes land more softly and melt in these interactions.

The joy I feel when painting is immense. I work mainly in oil, though once again I like to delve into the mixing of possibilities, in this case adding and exploring other mediums when put into close proximity."

​Sarah Godfrey is an established landscape artist and has a fine arts degree from the Dunedin School of Art.  Painting became her specialization.  “I concentrate on colour, texture and mood in my paintings, and I try to capture the feeling of a place rather than trying to create a realistic scene.  I am drawn by strong contrasts in nature to the dramatic effects of light and shadows that accentuate contours."

Eli Berland is our youngest artist  and this will be his second year of exhibiting  He has accompanied hi parents to art shows all over New Zealand so he might as well show off some of his skills too!

Eli experiments across a wide range of media and his parents have encouraged him to learn techniques in drawing, painting, printing, dyeing and sculpture.

Born and raised in Greymouth, I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a wee fella. Initially, it was cartoons and comic strips, and as a teenager, fantasy art. Early influences were Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo, among many others. 

After studying Art and Design in Christchurch I returned to the West Coast in 2003. Since 2010 I’ve been working as a tattooist, recently allocating more time to landscape painting and rediscovering my love of sci-fi and fantasy art.

Gary spent 45 years working as an architect in Greymouth honing basic drawing skills taught at Grey High School and Auckland university.

Retirement 12 years ago gave the time to develop those skills, and learn the basics of water colour. A week long course with John Lovett in Queensland gave him the confidence to experiment with the watercolour medium, introducing ink, charcoals, gouache and gesso. Encouragement and critiques from his wife Rae has helped along the way.

The challenge was to record structures in a more loose and colourful way, and produce pen and watercolours of buildings and landscapes as an alternative to photographs.

While travelling Gary realised he had the skill to draw structures and landscapes quickly and loosely, using a 40 year old watercolour travel set and quality Moleskin art diaries. Gary noticed that art exhibitions were devoid of paintings of historic and heritage structures, many of which are disappearing from our landscapes and towns. This has been a focus to date.
He has enjoyed ‘playing’ with watercolour, experimenting with different techniques and finishes to create mood and an emotive response.

Carver Marlene Trounson has turned her dream of working with greenstone into an actuality – and a passion.  She had, for many years, worked with natural gemstones and pearls to create distinctive fashion jewelry. Ten years ago she enrolled for the Diploma in Jade and Hardstone Carving at Tai Poutini Polytech. “I started full of excitement, but within days was asking myself what on earth I’d got myself into,” she chuckles. “I hadn’t touched carving tools before, and it was definitely more complex and challenging than I had anticipated.”

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But she persevered, graduated, and now creates a wide range of beautiful carvings - traditional pendants and earrings as well intricate sculptured works including flowers and delicate leaves. While 90% of her work is with greenstone, she also works with other gemstones and agates sourced from overseas.

Marlene has been exhibiting at Art in the Park since 2009.

Donna has been a regular at Art in the Park since its inception. Her Corrie Iron Art is well loved all around the South Island of New Zealand and she never seems to run out of inspiration! 

Lorna is an artist, based in Greymouth. She paints mostly in both oils, acrylics and water colours.. but is always learning new tricks!

Hello Art Lovers, my name is Shirely Louise Day and I create unique collages using a wide range of flowers, leaves, paints and mixed media.

I’m completely self-taught and through much trial and error have arrived at a place where I believe my work will delight and bring smiles to my viewers.

All of my work incorporates flora grown, picked and pressed by the artist. I live in Christchurch and regularly display my work at various markets that concentrate on supporting creators and makers.

The Daft, Mysterious Woman

Margaret Mary Fabiola Wallace started back with 'New Beginnings’ Visual Art recently. She had a long sabbatical break from painting. Now she has a new approach to art, looser, freer and more experimenting. She is expressive, loves colour and texture. Her art now is based on memories packed with love, emotions, mood, texture and our beautiful planet we live on. She has fresh ideas and no boundaries now. Also known recently as 'The Daft Woman’ according to a recent post. Margaret Mary is inspired by her environment and the beautiful wild West Coast beaches.

She is a West Coaster and ex-pupil of St Mary's. Some of her upbringing reflects in her art work, richness of colour, lights and darks. These days she finds inspiration closer to home, “from my garden”.  Her house acts as a whole new outlook, “I don't have to go far, there are spontaneous views from my windows and never ending inspirations”.

Karin Werner        b. Oxford,1963

 I have drawn and painted all my life and am largely self taught.   I use mainly oils, water colours,  pastels and pencil. 

 My subjects are often landscapes, horses and other animals, vehicles,

 particularly motorcycle engines, although I also do more interpretive work,

and acrylic pour/swipes.

I live in Amberley and am a member of Arts Canterbury, the Rangiora, Ashburton, and Otago Art Societies, and exhibit mainly through their exhibitions.

My paintings have been awarded People’s Choice, Merit and Premier Awards

 at art exhibitions and competitions throughout the South Island.

More of my art can be viewed on my website  www.karinwerner.co.nz 

and on my face book page  @ SOUTHISLANDARTIST

I started painting for the first time a few years ago, having never done it before Art and painting for me has been like discovering magic. I cannot imagine a day without painting. I now see the world and everything in it in a new way. I see beauty shadows light and colour I hadn't noticed before. 

My wish is that my art can bring to others not only pleasure but helps them to also see how amazing our earth and nature is.