The Clevedon Art Trail was held on March 15 and 16. HELENA O’NEILL talks with organiser Helen Morrison about the annual event and her life as an artist.
Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
I was born in Thames and grew up on a farm in a place called Hikuai, on the Coromandel
Peninsula.
How did you become an artist?
I have always loved painting and art ever since high school. Back then I really wanted to be an artist but knew how hard it was to earn a living being an artist. So straight out of school I started a design degree as it was a career path in art, but I pulled out in the second year due to it being not what I wanted.
So I decided to completely change what I was doing, and I went nursing as it had aways been the other option that I was interested in. I was a registered nurse for 10 years and have had my children during that time. Throughout my life I have painted on and off and once my kids were all at school, I then was able to get back into painting and I remembered how much I absolutely loved it. With the help of my partner, we converted a space at our place to be my home studio and have just gone from there.
What do you love about painting landscapes and when did you get into portraiture also?
I feel inspired to paint when I look at the land around me, I feel a real connection to it and that is why I want to paint it. I started doing portraiture in 2023. I did a portraiture course with a local artist and learnt how to draw and paint faces, and realised I really enjoyed that so have been slowly working away at portraits alongside my landscapes.
What is your preferred medium to paint with and why?
Oil paint, when I tried oil painting for the first time, I loved the buttery feel of the paint and the way it can be applied so thick, not that I do it much that way these days. It is very forgiving too.
Who or what influences your paintings?
I am influenced by the artist Toss Woollaston, I love how he is so confident with his
brushstrokes and the way he gets so much feeling and emotions into his work.
Do you have a favourite work and why that particular piece?
Yes, my favourite piece of work is ‘Above Wellington’ by Toss Woollaston. What I like about it is the elevated viewpoint, the colours, the large size and how the landform is becoming abstract.
How long have you been involved with the Clevedon Art Trail, and what do you love about it?
What I love about the Clevedon Art Trail is that it connects the place with creativity and the
community. It also provides a platform to engage with other artists and share my work with an audience that appreciates the place.
What was your favourite stop on the art trail this year?
This year it was the group show at Hallertau Clevedon.
How is the relationship between the Clevedon Art Trail and its local community?
I think it’s really good. We are supporting each other. We are connecting artists and people
together and are helping artists and businesses in Clevedon by bringing more people into the area.
What do you love about the art community in Franklin?
What do you like about life in Clevedon?
I like where it is. We are surrounded by rolling hills, farmland, native bush, the sea, beaches like Kawakawa Bay and Maraetai, the Wairoa River, and Hunua Falls. I also love the stunning coastal views, and it’s so close to the city. There’s also the growing creative community in Clevedon, and I love the farmers’ markets, especially when they do the twilight market.
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