I have been painting all my life and after years of study, work, travel and general life experience I realised how little I really knew of not only my heritage but all of New Zealand's heritage and thus I have since made it my personal goal to study, research, read, question and create as much information as possible.
I studied Traditional Maori Weaving and Arts in Waiwhetu under Erenora Puketapu-Hetet and her family. I also have an Honors Diploma in Art & Creativity. More importantly I have been actively creating art since I was old enough to hold a pencil and that passion has never faltered. I feel there is a need to cross the two mediums of fine art and historical information in a way that people with interests of either will be able to learn about something new.
Art is a medium that has been documenting history since the beginning of time, even before the written word and like literature it hasn't always been totally accurate however the effect is the same. It is a means to an end and like my work I feel it necessary to communicate my thoughts in a way that satisfies my need to create something beautiful, interesting and informative.
