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Creative ID: 382

Art form(s): Design, Visual arts
Language(s): English, Māori
Based in: Nelson – Tasman
Where I'm available:
Nelson – Tasman, Wellington
When I'm available: Currently I am available for all of 2021.

My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)

I’m a freelance illustrator who works across editorial, print and murals. I have been working in this field for seven years in Melbourne, Wellington, Berlin, Portugal and now Nelson. I specialise in illustrating stories and creating a narrative for viewers to understand large and complex ideas. If selected for this programme, I would like to teach a class on how to illustrate for books, text and stories. I have a Bachelors degree with honours in this area and am published in various forms under this specialty.

My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with

I have written and illustrated a published book which was a finalist for the NZ Best Awards under it’s original title. Following this book, I was asked by Forest and Bird to create a short story for their kids magazine, Kiwi Conservation Club. The result was a piece of writing which I wrote and illustrated. This was published across two editions of the magazine. I have also illustrated an early readers book (3-5). Recently I was an artist in residence in Portugal where I created an illustrated map for the city which highlighted the arts venues and created a large-scale mural at one of the art venues in the city. I was commissioned to create a mural at Wellington hospital last year and later won the Keep New Zealand Beautiful award for best mural for the final result. I have a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design with first class honours, specialising in illustration. I have had many other clients.

Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes

I was a national arts festival host for the Capital E Arts Festival where I led large school groups of children ages 5-12 around the event. I would explain the concepts and main idea of the performance or arts show they were seeing and help keep the children safe and together whilst leading them around Wellington’s art venues. I have just been selected to be the lead artist for the Nelson edition of a group painting session where I will be teaching adults to paint in a pub setting. During my book launch, I read my book aloud to a group of young people ages 5-10 and taught them how to draw the lead character by a demonstration. 

Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice

I want to help facilitate the pathway from children being interested in and passionate about art, into a sustainable and for filling career path. There are ways to make a living, doing what you love and I want to show children that they can follow their passions into the art world through creating illustrations. Being a freelancer is hard, but it’s extremely rewarding to see your work in print or on the side of a building etc. I would have greatly appreciated an illustrator coming to my school when I was younger and showing me there is a way to make money from an activity that gives you joy. 

When I was at high school, we focused on fine and traditional art, and it was only when I got to university that I discovered illustration. That was a turning point for me and my career, however I don’t think many people can afford to take that risk and dive into higher education without knowing there is a path for them to make a living afterwards and therefore, less people risk going down the creative path.

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