Come celebrate with all the exhibiting artists throughout the Art Trail, the Opening Night for the 2024 Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail.  Get the first look at the Members Showcase Exhibition that will run for the duration of the Art Trail at the Warkworth Town Hall and the fundraising challenge created by Members for the Trail.

Cherrie is a mixed media artist that specialises in small and large sculptures and the occasional painting.

Karena's new work includes medium to large charred cedar acrylic abstract wall works and painted bamboo 'earth sticks' sculptures for the garden.

Philippa works in painting, collage, printing and ceramics, creating pieces inspired by NZ nature and landscape and the interplay of colour, texture and pattern. A nine-time finalist in World of WearableArt (WOW), she won the Aotearoa Section in 2015 and placed third in the Creative Excellence Section in 2016.

Alexis Waterhouse uses the mediums of pottery, glass and wood to create a variety of both useful items like cups and vases, as well as sculpture pieces.

Vivienne has always been interested in art and aesthetics, but it is only recently that she has taken up painting. Being inspired by the beauty of Mahurangi and it's surrounding areas she creates colourful abstracted versions of the scenes she sees using acrylic on canvas.

Alan has had a lifetime passion for wood and has now taken this love into the art of Woodturning. Using native New Zealand timbers he creates vases, bowls and other pieces allowing each piece to express its uniqueness and intrinsic beauty.

Contemporary Jeweller with one of a kind beautiful bespoke pieces in silver, glass and resin.

Susanne enjoys painting in a range of media but is currently working in acrylics creating pastel abstract flowers that inspire intuitive reflection. She encourages people to paint as a form of therapeutic stress relief without judgment and for the pleasure of self-expression.

Simon Payton is a painter and sculptor who creates vibrant abstractions about the world around us. His figurative and portraits are in contrast to his mainstream work.

Rosemary's passion is creating oil paintings of the many beautiful places she has visited within New Zealand. Creating these memories are always a welcome challenge as her work is very detailed and photographic. She also designs and creates wooden garden totem poles of different sizes.

Ursula Christel (BA Majors in Fine Art & Art History, DipEd is a multidisciplinary artist - art maker, art writer, teacher, curator, and social practice artist. She is particularly drawn to collaborative projects with fellow creatives and diverse communities. Projects often combine art making, environmentalism, and social and political activism.

Ursula Christel has coordinated a Creative Heritage programme at Warkworth & District Museum. Works showing different types of Art & Crafts are on display around the museum for the duration of the Art Trail. A series of interactive demonstrations suitable for the whole family will run over both weekends at a special rate of $5 for museum visitors.

Animals and birds have always featured in Jill's work. She loves to show their attitudes and movement. Jill also creates garden water features and ceramic houses that are suitable for the home or the garden and can double as bird-feeders. They are replicas from old New Zealand and European buildings.

Lynley finds inspiration in figurative and portraiture using complimentary colours instead of traditional skin tones. Her current art practice includes oil paintings through to mixed media works.

Claire-Erica is an award-winning contemporary realist painter easily recognised for her attention to detail and unmistaken painting style. Her personal photographic observations of the natural environment, she draws ongoing inspiration and enthusiasm to capture the detail and essence of the wild birds of New Zealand.

Joy uses both wheel work and hand building techniques to create fun decorative planters, clay balls and domestic ware. Her work explores the use of oxides, clay marbling and colourful glazes.

Desiree paints with acrylics, using lace as her textured component within most of the art pieces. She is known for her vibrant use of colour. Together with the Women's Centre Rodney, she will lead a couple of short art making activities during the weekend.

For over 30 years, Women's Centre Rodney has championed holistic women's wellness through their services and programmes. Their 'Thriving Through Arts' series offers a variety of creative workshops each facilitating opportunities to lightening burdens, elevating moods, and igniting renewed purpose and energy within women seeking physical mental and economic wellbeing. An exhibition of work made through the series will on show during the Art Trail and on the weekends, a couple of short art making activities for women available led by Desiree Alexandre.

Tea, Coffee or Juice
PLUS 3 pieces of food for only $10
(select from a choice of sandwiches, asparagus rolls, savouries, and something sweet.

The funds raised will go to the local community which the Lions support, including Springboard, Kowhai Youth Trust, Westpac Helicopter Trust, Women's Centre Rodney to name a few.

The Members Showcase Exhibition celebrates the creativity and diversity of artistic disciplines of all members of the Mahurangi Artist Network with open studios throughout Mahurangi during the Art Trail.

Clean forms and vibrant colours inspired by the natural world are key elements of Ann's paintings and mixed media work.

Vivienne is inspired by the beauty of the natural world around us. She loves to create colourful flowers and birds, often mounted on driftwood or rustic upcycled copper. Kowhai, Pohutakawa, Clematis and Hibiscus fired in an electric kiln; raku firing for the lustrous and metallic colours of New Zealand's native birds.

Bringing traditional whatu weaving and other Maori weaves into contemporary wearable art and wall pieces.

Jonathan Bourla is a fine art, black and white photographer living in Snells Beach.

Jo-ann enjoys creating works out of innovative materials and upcycling. Making statements about ís it want or need'? There is beauty all around us.

Caroline is an encaustic and ceramic artist. She describes how she likes to paint in wax for the way colour and shape can form dynamic surfaces. Caroline's ceramic characters are quite at home having a cup of tea rather than in the barnyard.

Maureen is an urban sketcher using watercolour and pens. There is a freedom with watercolour paints that she enjoys and she happily uses collage and patterns to create other larger work.

Julz discovered glass fusing seven years ago and has since developed her technical skills to make her own design elements for all her work. Specialising in bespoke pieces, Julz uses many different processes to achieve the finished result, from small pieces to large outdoor sculptures.

Sandra hand-builds in clay, quirky creatures full of character.

Check out the Workshops for times when Sandra will be leading Creative Pottery Project sessions throughout the Art Trail.

Welfe Bowyer's jewellery emphasises form and structure, creating hand-made textures with unique combinations of bronze, silver and gold. Often utilising found materials to create a language that speaks of time, erosion, memory and how pieces might evolve in the future as they are worn.

Tanya McCabe creates colourful, quirky and whimsical abstract paintings. She loves to create harmony and contrast between colours, shapes and form that all generate an energy, giving her work life.

Yvonne's contemporary pieces use colour, patterns, words and mark marking to convey an expression of a time, place or emotion.

Ian, still enthusiastically learning, is mostly self-taught but credits mentors, workmates, and 'practice, practice' to achieve his skills. He's worked as a graphic artist, campaign designer, photographer, and illustrator in studios in Australia and New Zealand as a Creative Director, fashion, editorial, political cartoonist, and illustrator.

Maggie is a self-taught artist, making bright colourful creations out of clay which can be used indoors or out. She is well known for her ceramic torsos and totems.

Julia has been painting for some 20 years. She enjoys sketching and painting animals, birds and flowers in acrylics and latterly has dabbled in oils. Horses and elephants are her favourite subjects.

Blair hand builds and glazes ceramic sculptures, objects, vases and bowls. Many have organic components to create a unique piece of art.

Sonia specialises in oil on canvas, seascapes and landscapes. Trees are a constant theme of her work and are either shown from a birds eye view or anchored against stormy skies. Her work is sold through several New Zealand galleries and private commissions.

Experience a unique open-air gallery in a sublime native landscape, discovering more than 60 large-scale sculptures along the 2km Trail. Enjoy relaxed all-day dining in the spectacular Glass House while enjoying celebrated estate-grown wines. The foyer gallery features a wide range of small sculptures.

Sculpture Trail Entry Applies:
$12 Adults
$8 Children (5-17yrs)
$35 Family Pass

Sally is a printmaker working with collagraphs, gelli prints, lino cuts and monoprints to create layered prints, often collaged to create one unique print, rather than editions. Her work explores colour, texture, organic form and energy, which can also be found in her paintings and mixed media works.

Peter has been 'making things' most of his life and since retiring to Snells Beach, has decided to share some of his inspired and quirky ideas to a wider audience. He has established a workshop where magic happens, creating mainly large (award winning) wooden sculptures that are thought provoking.

Larraine paints to relax and share (and sometimes even sell). Her paintings and signs of different subjects are done on wood, canvas and paper.

In Glenda's whare toi, her art reflects natures beauty, aiming to draw you in, encouraging you to pause, breathe, and have an inspiring experience.

Contemporary artworks rendered with bold brushstrokes, Pauline's aim is to paint intuitively and she works quickly in order to maintain a fresh result. She often paints alla prima and subjects vary from lively landscapes and still life to animal portraits and large florals.

Pam paints impressionistic style landscapes using acrylic, oils and watercolour. She expresses the essence of her subject without the detail. Living by the sea at Martin's Bay and surrounded by NZ Pohutukawa trees, she has an ongoing source of inspiration and her paintings often feature trees and local bird life.

Sarah's handcrafted jewellery designs are reflective of pacific nature. With an award winning profile, Sarah's unique style and designs are displayed in her use of the finest materials. This reputation is now being recognised and enjoyed internationally, here in New Zealand and throughout the pacific.

Pamela Harland, originally from the UK, uses colourful creative visualisations in her counselling therapy work and artistic expression has naturally progressed from this. Pamela calls her art "New Dimension' painting seascapes, landscapes, spiritual images and portraits to evoke feelings of peacefulness and upliftment.

Located within the Matakana Country Park, Art Matakana is the area's longest-established fine art gallery, representing a range of talented NZ artists, both well-known and emerging. Exhibiting an ever-changing selection of paintings, indoor/outdoor sculpture, ceramic, print, and jewellery, all works can be viewed and purchased via our website.

Hazel Hunt was born into an artist family and had private tuition from her father who was also a painter from London. Hazel prefers to paint in oils on a larger sale and has a studio in Matakana.

Jane is a local Matakana artist specialising in abstract art. Her artistic background is in black and white photography and has recently shifted her focus to painting. Her abstract photographic background has influenced her 'take' on the art world leading to a fresh approach to the images she creates.

Alsyn, a visionary textile artist, sculpts intricate three-dimensional forms that convey 'captured feelings'. Her muted colour palette accentuates textures, evoking support and healing. Using unconventional materials like stainless steel and rusted iron, she redefines textile artistry. Exhibiting globally, her work beckons introspection, celebrating life's fleeting beauty and connections.

Check out the Workshops for times when Alysn will be leading Creative Stitch Project sessions throughout the Art Trail.