Kathy is a contemporary Flax Weaver who is basically Autodidactic (self taught). She enjoys transforming raw fibres into intricate woven forms such as Bodices and Queen Palm Pods which are her signature pieces. Her Baskets,Birdnests and Kupenga Ketes come second.

She has exhibited for NZ in Jaipur in India for the Rodney Artists and Floral Society which was held in 2020. Also Kathy has held Flax workshops in NZ and Italy.

Her Queen Palm Pods are sculptural forms that echo Seed Vessels and natural growth patterns. The flax is shaped and woven to highlight both its strength and delicacy, creating works that feel at once grounded and ethereal.

She hopes that viewers and collectors alike will find genuine enjoyment in her work, bringing a natural presence into their space.

Kathy lives and works in Sandspit where she continues to expand the possibilities of Flax in contemporary fibre art.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

I was always interested in drawing and painting and I was very lucky to be gifted the talent to do this.

I won the Betham Art Scholarship while at Secondary School, then went on and did my Fine Arts Prelim. While attending Wellington School of Design and studying Architecture.  Since then, I have painted on a regular basis and with various mediums.

My full-time work, Architecture has been complimentary to my art, as I have been able to paint architectural perspectives, both for myself and many Architects throughout New Zealand.

My work has moved on from a more detailed style to a looser representational style where I let the mind of the viewer fill in the spaces, with colour and light playing an important part.

While many subjects interest me, I do confess to enjoying painting the sea and boats but on occasions do venture into completely new ground, not always successfully but always interesting and I think an important part of development and stimulation.  I have enjoyed doing commissions and also seeing many of my paintings going to homes throughout New Zealand and Overseas.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Fiona’s art is rooted in a lifelong intrigue with the power of the photographic medium. While she has only resided in the region for the past 18 years, she quickly developed a deep connection to the stunning and ever-shifting topographies of the Mahurangi area. She is drawn to the vastness of these coastlines—the interplay of beaches, sky, and sea that continually informs her perspective.

Her current body of work is shaped by an extraordinary personal quest: swimming daily throughout the entirety of 2025. This discipline has yielded a compelling and intimate portfolio that chronicles the nuances of a year-long journey. The collection presents a powerful visual narrative of the New Zealand coast, capturing a spectrum of emotion and light—from the dark, brooding atmospheres of deep winter to the light-filled anticipation of the summer months.

Through her lens, Fiona translates these daily physical and emotional experiences into evocative landscape photography, exploring themes of endurance, nature’s transient beauty, and the profound human relationship with the oceanic environment.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Roberta Queiroga is a contemporary artist based in Aotearoa New Zealand whose practice unfolds at the intersection of gesture, emotion, and spatial awareness. Trained as an architect, she brings a refined understanding of balance, rhythm, and materiality to her abstract compositions, where spontaneous mark-making meets a minimalist, architectural sensibility.

Born in Brazil and shaped by life across four continents, Roberta’s work carries a rich cultural resonance. Influences from Brazil, Portugal, Japan, and Aotearoa merge into a visual language that is both intuitive and deliberate, rooted in movement yet anchored by structure. Her paintings often read as emotional landscapes, capturing the energy of lived experience through layered gestures and calligraphic nuance.

Roberta’s practice has been recognised both in Aotearoa and internationally. She has exhibited at the Auckland Museum, been a Parkin Prize finalist, represented New Zealand in a global exhibition of women artists in Dubai, and undertaken an artist residency in Japan, which continues to inform her explorations of line, space, and rhythm. Recent exhibitions include the solo exhibition “In Between – It’s Still Me” (Auckland, 2026) and a DUO exhibition with Japanese calligrapher Ito Junichi.

At the heart of Roberta’s work is a commitment to the expressive potential of movement, how a single gesture can hold emotional resonance, and how viewers might find their own reflections within the dynamics of each mark

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Logan Bow is a multidisciplinary artist and emerging architect whose practice bridges visual art, design, and spatial exploration. Currently pursuing a Master of Architecture (Professional) and Urban Design at the University of Auckland, he integrates architectural sensibilities and global perspectives into his artistic practice, drawing from both academic research and extensive travels. One of the disciplines within Logan’s work includes an immersive exploration of natural textures, particularly those found in New Zealand shells. His practice thrives on experimentation, embracing distortion, flow, and symmetry to push creative boundaries in both playful and thought-provoking ways. Alongside his shell distortions, Logan additionally explores the use of polymethyl methacrylate by investigating form, density, and rigid, figural origami. This dual exploration results in a vibrant interplay between cyclic motifs and fluid structures. Through public exhibitions and artistic collaborations, he strives to create meaningful connections—between artist and audience, material and maker—cultivating a space where creativity thrives.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Tim Houghton is a New Zealand-based artist known for his expressive and dynamic painting style. He is fascinated by the colour and vibrancy of the world’s cultures and peoples—and the challenge of capturing these visual experiences on paper or canvas. Travel, more than anything, drives his creative soul. Over the years he has been amazed at how a cluster of interests—art, travel, cultures, people and faith—have resurfaced again and again in various combinations, like a giant Rubik’s cube, to define the direction of his life and work.

With a degree in Fine Art from Cardiff College of Art, he spent two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area, exhibiting his work in solo and group shows. His love for travel has taken him to over 60 countries, inspiring a rich visual language that captures the vibrancy of different cultures. Alongside his artistic journey, he has been deeply involved in social work, supporting refugees and marginalised communities. His faith plays a central role in his life and creative practice, reflecting a deep appreciation for beauty, movement and storytelling through art. He currently works from his home studio in Auckland, New Zealand.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Ruth Christie, born in the UK, is a painter working in Auckland, New Zealand.
Her paintings hark back to historical artists, techniques and eras. However,
despite this interest in the past, it is clear through the tableau array that this
sort of sampling of tastes and textures of different times is only possible in the
internet age. Amongst the threshing, what remains as a perennial subject
throughout her work is feminine pursuits. These could be the literal interests
like sewing and needlework, poetry or floristry displayed in the fabrics, flowers,
and folios in her still life. They could also be the emotional concepts like
warmth, sorrow or contentment that these pursuits serve as a balm to.
Gradually, her works tentatively extend beyond depicting her interests through
still life into self portraiture. It is through this exercise that her recent works
reflect a burgeoning vulnerability with seeing herself as the focal point in her
own paintings.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.

Jocelyn Friis is a New Zealand-based painter creating semi-abstract land and seascapes from her coastal studio in Mangawhai. Working with acrylic and encaustic, she explores the interplay between nature’s resilience and vulnerability, and our dependence on it.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Jocelyn’s early connection with nature and a Steiner education nurtured her creative path. Since immigrating to New Zealand in 1996, she has deepened her practice through eco and process art, exploring the link between creativity, wellbeing, and the environment.

A four time award-winning artist, Jocelyn has exhibited widely across New Zealand, including the Auckland Art Show and the NZ Fine Arts association of Fine Arts, and more recently in the UK through the ArtCan organization.

She has been shortlisted for juried exhibitions such as the National Tasman Art Awards, Cleveland National Art Awards and the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards. A recipient of a Creative NZ grant, she is also an alumni of Nicholas Wilton’s Creative Visionary Programme and a certified facilitator of Art & Creativity for Healing workshops, both locally and online.

Statement

My semi-abstract landscape paintings are driven from a desire to explore the connection between creativity, nature and wellbeing. Rather than referencing a particular view or scene, they emerge from a deep place in my imagination.

I use acrylic and encaustic mediums, which facilitate my free flowing style. Acrylics suit my spontaneous way of painting, while I embrace the ancient integrity of working with hot wax. Beginning with loose, unplanned, uninhibited marks and colours, I allow pure intuition and emotion to guide the process. This organic phase is deeply inspired by time spent in nature, where I absorb the energy of my surroundings and subconsciously transfer those emotions onto the canvas. As the piece develops, a shift occurs from raw expression to thoughtful refinement, where I assess elements like composition, balance, values, and color relationships, and work to bring the painting into a harmonious conclusion. My approach embraces both instinct and structure, trusting the creative flow while thoughtfully guiding the piece to completion, inviting viewers to feel the emotional depth and natural inspiration woven into every layer.

 My art is a gentle nudge to pause a while, and to reflect on how we can bring peace, hope and contentment to our lives. I strongly believe in the healing power of art – for both the artist and the viewer. Art can express what words often cannot, opening space for connection, reflection, and personal growth. On contemplating my paintings a personal connection is often recognized, whether it’s a memory, an emotion, or a resonating message, drawing attention to metaphors that mirror the complexities of the human experience. Through my work, I share the message that art is for everyone and that engaging with both creativity and nature can foster peace and harmony.

*Please Note: The artwork displayed on this page is an example of this artists portfolio in the OBV Gallery.