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All Artworks

Displayed here are artworks fresh from the studio and going back many years. As a new work is completed, it's added (see new work via the filter: New Artworks).

These original oil paintings depict islands in the Pacific Ocean as well as surround seas in a whimsical surreal environment that allows the viewer entry into an alternative narrative of our lived experience.

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A whimsical evening on a small island -at the side of the road, waiting for a ride is Totoro; one of the characters from Studio Ghibli - a japanese animation company we raised our children on.

A Night on the Town

Exhibited: Island Nation, 101.5 x 101.5cm, Oil on Canvas, 2020, sold

One of my first portraits, it depicts the mother of an artist friend. I travelled to America and stayed with her and her son Ed (a watercolour artist) in Tallahassee. Ed and I spent an awesome summer painting the countryside. I produced this painting as a thank you for her hospitality. I came across the painting again while visiting Ed and Sharlene at Nantucket Island in 2023

Aldis Rudd

? , size unknown, oil on canvas, 1994, gifted

Slowly nature will reclaim all of our constructions - all we can do is find the fixer-upper and stave off natures creep a little longer. View “Echo” for the companion piece to this artwork, which came first - the reconstruction or the delapaded villa before the renovation?

Amorphous

Exhibited: Island Nation, 99 x 99 cm, oil on canvas, 2020, sold

This painting came about from a trip to the Tiritiri Matangi Island wildlife sanctuary and conservation project.

"Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand's most important and exciting conservation projects. It is located 30km north east of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
All mammalian predators were eradicated and a number of threatened and endangered bird and reptile species have been successfully introduced, including the flightless takahe, one of the world’s rarest species, and the tuatara. There are few places in New Zealand where you can readily see and walk amongst so many rare species." - Tiritiri Matangi

The Ark

Exhibited: Land's End, 85 x 85 cm, oil on canvas, 2018, sold

"This painting came about from a trip to the Tiritiri Matangi Island wildlife sanctuary and conservation project.

"Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand's most important and exciting conservation projects. It is located 30km north east of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
All mammalian predators were eradicated and a number of threatened and endangered bird and reptile species have been successfully introduced, including the flightless takahe, one of the world’s rarest species, and the tuatara. There are few places in New Zealand where you can readily see and walk amongst so many rare species." - Tiritiri Matangi

Ark 2

Exhibited: Land's End, 85 x 85 cm, oil on canvas, 2018, sold

At first glance, a whimsical scene of anthropomorphic animals from a fairytale, but upon closer inspection the two sides are divided - On the isle the Native birds; Morepork (Ruru), Kakapo, NZ Falcon, Kea, Takahe, Saddleback, Kiwi and Pukeko gather to witness the arrival of these new arrivals. Battling the current within the small boat, are two rats, two mice, a weasel and a possum, discovering a new land and the plentiful bounty that it holds for them.

The Arrival

Exhibition: Pretty Invaders, 114 x 106cm, Oil on linen, 2022, sold

I think of this painting as my childhood bach - with grand illusions. When I recently revisited our old family bach in Ngunguru, Northland, I was saddened to see that its position had been usurped by a new building while the bach had been moved to the back of the section to serve as a storage shed. For this artwork, I decided to reinstate the bach from its present condition, to a prime beachfront location. Penguin Random House Australia approached me with a request to use three of my paintings for the second editions of Tim Winton’s non fiction titles, The Boy Behind the Curtain, Island Home and Land’s Edge (this image).

The Bach

102 x 56 cm, oil on linen, 2008, sold

New Zealand is at the edge of every map (if it's even included) and one of the last refuges from the hustle and bustle of contemporary life. We play in the sun at the end of the world

Bach at the End of the World

106 x 81 cm, oil on board, 2024

A homage to many beautiful sun filled days at my in-laws Bach - a sanctuary for a painter when a quiet place is needed to reset and re-imagine. A feeling a lot of us share when it comes to holiday homes. A favourite from the island artworks

Baches

79 x 79 cm, oil on board, 2017, sold

This NZ beach artwork is based upon the custom of people balancing rocks, the precarious playful practice which represents our attempt to control the natural world. With this work, a broader theme of family and balancing rearing children, housing and environment. The bird is a dotterel which has the habit of mimicking a broken wing in order to draw intruders away from its nest.

The Balancing Act

Exhibition: For the Birds, 80 x 80cm, Oil on Panel, 2019, sold

Beach art - celebrating the beach culture around the world. The ship mirrors the man’s form and the pebbles are a nod to the companion piece ‘Bather One’. Kudos to my friend Peter for modelling and allowing me to use his girth in many of my paintings.

Bather 2

137 x 56 cm, oil on canvas, 2002, sold

Beach art - celebrating the beach culture around the world. The island mirrors the woman’s curves and the birds are oblivious to the pebble in her hand. Kudos to my sister-in-law for modelling and allowing me to use her form in many of my paintings.

Bather 1

137 x 56 cm, oil on canvas, 2002, sold

A typical gathering on many beaches throughout New Zealand in the Kiwi summer, sharing memories and communing whilst the children play. View ‘The Minders’ or ‘Faith, Hope and Shirley’ for more in this theme of people at the beach

Beach Reflections

91 x 91 cm, oil on canvas, 2013, sold

The clear indicators of a hot summer day. A still-life set in among the same small sand dune. A representation of the paraphernalia people bring to the beach, vestiges of long hot summer days

Beachlife

Exhibited: Pretty Invaders, 99 x 73cm, oil on canvas, 2022 - sold

This painting references a few New Zealand movies that shaped my perspective - dashed upon the rocks to the right is a grand piano, after the Jane Campion movie: The Piano. A mini's engine block representing both Smash Palace as well as Goodbye Porkpie and the bleached whale bones for Whale Rider. These movies helped me to discern my own unique local voice and realise New Zealand's singular place in the world. The letterbox is from my childhood, a red letter protrudes from its depths, and a light on the porch a lighthouse to guide you home.

The Beacon

Exhibited: For the Birds, 80 x 80cm, Oil on Panel, 2019, sold

I liked the idea of a multi storey villa upon a multi storey villa, reaching for the sky. Several NZ Birds perched upon and around the villa. How are we going to continue to live together, when is seems sometimes that we come from different backgrounds?

The Birdhouse

Exhibited: Land's End, 65 x 85 cm, oil on canvas, 2018, sold

A calf that is destined for 'the freezing works' is called a bobby calf, I decided to 'humanize' the little fellow.

Bobby

30 x 30 cm, oil on board with handcrafted frame, 2016, sold

An precariously situated Bach, nested on top of a rock, in a blue-green sea. A man checks the horizon from his sanctuary in the middle of nowhere

Bolthole

Exhibited: Pretty Invaders, 84 x 84, oil on canvas, 2022, sold

As a parent we raise our offspring and send them out into the world - here the rough and tumble of life is represented by the crashing of the waves of the ocean - a young girl (my daughter) contemplates working up the courage needed to brave the ocean

Boogie Board

Exhibited: Oil & Water, 70 x 60 cm, oil on board, 2015, sold

My two favourite models for my beach art paintings - neither of whom have met each other yet they compliment each other -a relationship where each is assisting the other to stay upright, but neither are present - one escapes into a book and the other sleeps. See Bather 1 and Bather 2 for more of this theme

Bookends

107 x 67 cm, oil on canvas, 2002, sold

The New Zealand birds each come from different environments, the Kea is a mountain dweller, the Stitchbird lives in the forest and the Reef heron is a wader around the the rocky shoreline. Together they stand upon a broken rock; a metaphor for our earth. View ‘Post’ and ‘Colonial Villa’ which have the same painting style and theme.

Broken Rock

Exhibition: For the Birds, 60 x 89cm, Oil on Panel, 2019, sold

Paying homage to the artworks of John Gerrard Keulemans for Walter Buller’s iconic - A History of the Birds of New Zealand. I was also inspired by the attitude in Bill Hammond's painting; Waiting for Buller - where our native birds look out to the sea and wait to be given 'names' by the colonial explorers. This artwork showcases 12 NZ Birds - Kereru, Kea, Kingfisher, Kokako, Tomtit, Weka, Fantail, Tui, Huia, Kiwi, Pukeko and Shag.

Buller

- after Bill Hammond , Exhibited: Archipelago, 79 x 79 cm, oil on board, 2017, sold

An early work from my farm series - this monochromatic artwork and title is a reminder that these Hereford cattle should be treated with respect, as it can be a dangerous occupation. In his hand is the shaft of a gun and the cattle look on awaiting their fate.

Bullrush

Exhibited: Stone's Throw, 152 x 60 cm, oil on canvas, 2005, sold

My initial works depicted portraits of masculinity with the faces of the subject obscured so that their identity could only be gained by their surroundings and posture. They were attempts to characterise the New Zealand male temperament, or perhaps simply my own.

Calloused Veneer

Exhibited: Calloused Veneer, 91 x 91 cm, oil on board, 2004, sold

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