Kawatiri Artists

Anoushka Szybowski is a contemporary New Zealand artist based near Punakaiki on the West Coast of Te Waipounamu. Living on the edge of Paparoa National Park, she draws constant inspiration from the surrounding bush, birdlife and ocean. Her work reflects both the physical detail and the wairua of Aotearoa’s native birds.

Szybowski holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe College of Art & Design (2003) and works alongside her practice as a secondary school art teacher and mother of two. Themes of nurture, connection and storytelling run throughout her work, shaped by her roles in family and community.

Working primarily in charcoal and pencil, sometimes with pastel and collage, she creates large-scale drawings recognised for their rich tonal range, fine detail and tactile surfaces. Symmetry and mirroring lend her compositions a contemplative, meditative quality, bringing viewers into intimate encounters with each bird’s presence and personality.

Her recent series places birds upon amphora-like vessels, metaphors for the body, motherhood and carriers of memory and lineage. Drawing on Māori understandings of birds as messengers, her practice honours Papatūānuku and weaves together place, whakapapa and lived experience.

I am a self taught jewellery artist living at Tauranga Bay on the beautiful West Coast of the South Island, NZ.

I create pieces that carry the marks of their making. Tool marks, finger prints and texture embedded into the wax during the forming process. Working with Brass, Bronze and Silver, each piece is carved or formed by hand.

My work is for those drawn to the imperfect and the unconventional. People who see beauty in texture, asymmetry and the unrefined. The beauty of irregularity.

Each piece is a reflection of the handmade process, surfaces and form led by instinct as much as intention and, embracing perfect imperfection.

Unrefined | Wearable | Art

Originally from Christchurch, born to a Samoan father and European mother, Ruth read and drew everything she could get her hands on throughout her schooling.

Post-schooling, motherhood put a temporary end to her creative pursuits which she was able to resume as her children became older and she was accepted into the University of Canterbury’s fine Arts programme where she majored in Design. Ruth felt that Max Hailstone was a more approachable tutor and on a more mercenary level, she might be guaranteed a job as a now single mother.

Her interest in Printmaking was cultivated by tutor Barry Cleavin, who called himself “The Print Policeman”, a reference to his clinically clean techniques- to produce a print or edition of a pristine standard (not always achievable… ) Here, Ruth was drawn to the physicality of the woodcut process in particular, and its unexpected results “no matter how well you plan an image in advance, you’d never know exactly what the result might be; it’s not like painting where images can be reworked, your cuts commit you”.

Post degree, Ruth became a full time art teacher and in 1989 moved to the West Coast where a friend had opened a backpackers in Hector. Realising the Backpacker life was not for her, Ruth bought a house in Snodgrass overlooking the Orowaiti Estuary. It is here that Ruth gathered inspiration for her work, over looking the wetlands, observing its bird life. From taking a bird’s eye view of life, Ruth saw first hand the human impact on their environment.
“ We’re not a great bunch of animals really, I have huge doubts about 3/4 of the human race in terms of war, dishonesty, pollution and deforestation…I prefer animals and birds. This depth of thought lays behind a lot of Ruth’s work, the bird’s character expressing a wider social and environmental statement.

Jeanette Goode is an artist, illustrator and self published author of two children’s books.

Living on the West Coast she had the privileged of living next to a colony of little blue penguins. Observing their vulnerability, where humans interacted with their habitat, was the motivation for her first book A Little Blue.

The second book Penguins Don’t Send Postcards is a remarkable true story about a rare Fiordland Crested penguin who was given the name Jack by his carers. Jack was wounded at sea and drifted on ocean currents until he eventually washed ashore in the far north. His journey home is a story of endurance and adaptability. It is a tribute to the unsung heroes who ensure our wildlife have the best chance of survival.

Jeanette has also taken up pottery as a hobby. You can see her creations on display at Gallery 118.

My name is Karin Hansen, and I moved to New Zealand, Aotearoa, from Germany in 2009. I completed my social work studies in Nelson, married a local and made Westport my home. Between us, we have three adult children and two grandchildren. As an emerging Creative Arts Therapist, I must be comfortable working with a variety of arts media and styles. In my spare time, I prefer to explore with watercolour, acrylic, and ink. Painting enables me to express my emotions while simultaneously providing both stimulation and relaxation. The beautiful Buller West Coast region invites creativity. I believe there will never be a lack of inspiration.

I’m a West Coast Photographer enjoying the slow pace of life by the sea at Carters Beach in Westport.
Living here allows me to stay closely connected to the coastline, lush bush, and shifting light that inspire the images in my print shop.
My commercial photography work spans the West Coast from Karamea to South Westland, covering real estate, editorial, personal branding, and portraits.
With years of experience and a strong understanding of visual storytelling, I guide clients through their projects to create impactful images that elevate their website, social media, and brand presence.

Marilyn is a well known artist and contemporary tapestry weaver who has been painting and drawing since childhood. She taught herself to weave tapestries in 1980 and has since had wide experience in producing tapestries for exhibition, for private homes and also for public and corporate spaces. A recipient of a number of awards she has exhibited her work extensively throughout New Zealand and overseas.

Karyn is a multidisciplinary artist, working primarily in pencil to create intricate, textured drawings that invite viewers to discover beauty in everyday subjects - from human figures and fabric to seascapes and weathered concrete. She also creates small sculptures and jewelry from hard stones including jade, sodalite, and argillite, which she collects from local beaches and her travels, having studied hard stone carving at Tai Poutini Polytechnic in 2001.

Ross is a Kawatiri based ceramics artist who specialises in wheel-thrown functional ware. He produces simple, thoughtful forms - pottery meant to be used and enjoyed daily.