Alexia Klutyenberg is of Spanish and Dutch descent, and has been painting for 10 years.
She can be found in her studio north of Auckland among nature, where she finds inspiration for her art.
"The best things in life, like nature and love, really are free," she says.
"I feel guided to imprint nature into my canvasses where the beauty of nature feels almost frozen in time."
Alexia travels regularly to the South Island, specifically Otago, and as a result many of her pieces are indicative of the area.
Private tuition over the years by Australian artist Shamila Nezovic has been wonderfully nurturing and inspirational, says Alexia.
Commissions have varied over the years, from painting and designing for wine labels and gourmet food lines.
Alexia’s artwork features in many private collections in New Zealand and Australia.

Elizabeth Morrison Dulieu -     Painter


Originally from Queenstown, has been painting full-time in Auckland for 9 years. She has a Maori lineage through the people of Ngai Tahu in the South Island. A direct descendant of James Spencer, the first white settler in Bluff who married a highborn daughter - Mere Te Kauri.

Elizabeth is inspired by her heritage to paint original oils on canvas to portray legends of the Southern Region, including the legend of the sleeping giant of Wakatipu. For many of her recent works she has incorporated 2mm thick alloy with traditional carving patterns engraved, representing an eclectic combination of the old and new. The 'Mechanical Oils' series can be found in several galleries throughout New Zealand and in private collections in United Kingdom and America. Elizabeth has had two solo exhibitions both at the bruce Mason Centre on the North Shore, Auckland.

Hope Gibbons -     Painter


Hope Gibbons is an emerging New Zealand artist residing in Matakana. She can be found at her best painting full-time in her studio, overlooking the green paddocks and Sandspit harbour.

She has been tutored through the Rutherford Pre-Foundation Arts Programme and has regularly attended various advanced workshops from Ceramics, Encaustic to Life Drawing and Advanced Mixed Media Painting. The art making process has always played an important role in her life. Hope is excited to be also attending this year the Mastery Programme 2005.

She has work in private collections in the New Zealand and around the world and has had several sell out gallery exhibitions. Her mediums range from acrylic, plaster and bitumen to silver and gold leaf. Hope is intrigued at mixing mediums and pushing them to their limits to produce some unique and textural results. This lends a sense of depth and history to the works.

Jeri Elliot -     Painter/Multi Media

Jeri was born in New York - moved to Arizona at the age of six and then traveled overseas with her family when she was 12- growing up in Chile and Bahrain. Jeri eventually moved to Saudi Arabia where she lived for seven years before immigrating to New Zealand.

In Saudi women are generally not permitted to work (only in hospitals and schools) and therefore Jeri found the time to unearth her love for art and writing. The initial creations that filled her days in the desert were greeting cards and calendars - depicting local Arabian themes. These were big sellers and soon led to her writing and illustrating a book entitled Your Door to Arabia - over 12,000 copies have sold.

Jeri arrived in New Zealand in 1990, taking up part time employment in Queenstown. In 1997 she entered the Telecom art competition for the cover of the 1998 Otago phone book and won. Twice Jeri has since been a finalist in the Otago Telecom Art Awards. The Telecom win was encouraging and provided her with a kick-start back into painting. Her pen and ink artwork was selected for the cover of the local Council Proposed District Plan. Greeting cards were back on sale (not Arabian scenes this time) and she has illustrated three children's books. In November 2001, Jeri participated in a successful three women art exhibition at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown. She won a merit award in the Locations Art Awards in November 2001.

John Shewry -     Painter/Multi Media

The works created are extensions of my thought/opinions and emotions. I work in many medias but have chosen to paint this particular series, so the message and influences can be taken from this form of media.

I feel art gives the ability to provoke and send messages that are usually too sensitive in today's world.

 I can explore the idea and ideals far deeper in paint than in a vocal sense. These works offer a view of a small part of my life which delivered a very strong sense of being to me. We seldom take the time to look back and forward in history and present living. Our history offers a great chance to look at ourselves and find where we are and what we came from.

I was born in 1977 in the small town of Taranaki. We moved around the rural areas for some time before settling in Inglewood then Okato. I left home and school very early and travelled extensively throughout the world before choosing to settle in the Wakatipu. I have formed many ideas through the experience of travel and growing up in a small town mind which was broaden dramatically through my travels. My choice of subject is broad but I do enjoy working with the historical elements of New Zealand's growth and remission.I have been exhibiting in Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland for the past seven years working  in many media's which is choose for its relevance to the concept and mood.