I met Vicky through primary school. Not our own, but our boys'. They do swimming lessons together. One day when hovering next to the pool I over heard Vicky telling another parent that she was preparing for an exhibition at Kina, an art studio in town. As a creative, I was intrigued and couldn't help but slide into the conversation to find out more. 

Fast forward a few months, and we now have some of Vicky's original artworks hanging on our shop walls for sale here at Belhams Interiors. We are so thrilled to have met Vicky, and now it's your turn. She kindly sat down with us to share more about her work, her life behind the scenes and her upside down start to the day. 

1. Tell us three random facts about yourself?

· My favourite colour is moss green and my favourite food is blueberries.

· I start most days with a cold shower and time upside down on my inversion stool.

· I have an obsession with sunglasses, and a collection of these accessories that is my             favourite part of my wardrobe.

2. What has your working career looked like so far?

I’ve been fortunate to use my visual communication skills and a love of empowering others for close to 20 years in various roles, in Wellington and New Plymouth, as a graphic designer, practice manager, freelancer and brand and design consultant.
Recently alongside my work advising clients on brand strategy and marketing, I set up Make Your Mark – creativity workshops for workplaces.

3. Tell us about your artistic journey?

I couldn’t tell you exactly when I started painting, but I think I always have. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a creative household, with a mother who always had art making tools at the ready and a father in the textile industry. I have fond memories of adventuring into the basement studio of my Grandparents’ home to inhale the smell of my Grandfather’s oil paints and examine his brushes and palette knives. As a youngster I’d always have a creative project on the go and a trail of mess in my wake. I studied art history, print making, photography and design at secondary school and went on to attend Massey’s College of Creative Arts in Wellington.

From here my creative energies were largely channeled into commercial design work, and for well over a decade I did very little personal work. There was the exception in 2005 being in collaboration with a writer and illustrator for a couple of children’s books, until four years ago when I met up with a good friend (and talented artist) at Pukekura Park each week to draw botanical scenes and specimens. Those drawing sessions culminated in a joint show in October 2017 and from there I continued to engage in painting regularly to further fine tune my style.

Whilst painting is more than a hobby, it isn’t a full time job. Most of my week is dedicated to family life and professional creative service as a branding consultant.

4.  What inspires your artwork?

Obviously, there are botanical references in my work. And I very definitely started this style of painting with time in nature, parks and gardens, paying close attention to leaves, blooms and seed pods. This then extended to birds, then moths and more recently to coral forms and aquatic environments. Whilst my works are far from being political statements, I’m often in deep thought when painting about man’s impact on land and sea, climate change, and in particular the plight of our oceans and waterways.

The works of Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder and Hilma af Klint are sources of inspiration – each of these artists beautifully articulate balance and harmony within their works.

And music is a key inspiration and influence to my work. My process and paintings are a choreography of sorts. Each painting is a composition inspired by jazz, folk and more contemporary artists that are blending genres, the likes of Chilean Camila Meza, also Robert Glasper.

5. What do you love about being an artist in Taranaki?

There is a very supportive community of makers and creators here in Taranaki, some of whom will invite you into their working spaces and share their process. Being an artist in New Plymouth, has connected me with other like minds that inspire, encourage and support my practice.

Alongside the great people, Taranaki’s dramatic landscape and ever changing weather, whenua, coastline and native bush, makes for plenty of creative inspiration. The natural wonderlands that are our back yard in this region are a gift – being able to explore along a beach, or walk the trails of Taranaki Maunga.

6. When you're not painting, what keeps you busy?

I’m Mum to two young boys. One is an avid reader with an strong imagination, an eye for detail and an ability to remember everything. The other is a talented musician, who smiles at the world and never stops talking or dancing. Together we explore, learn and muddle our way through household jobs when we have to.

I live by a philosophy of ‘creativity everyday’ – that isn’t always painting, sometimes it is simply getting outside to appreciate Mother Nature’s composition. It might be gardening, cooking, making music or a collaboration with my kids. I try to broaden and change my perspective as often as I can.

Photo credit: Katie O’Neil / @kkwhitesnake