CHILDHOOD MEMORY

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My earliest memory of sand was how beautifully

the black iron sands reflected the night sky.

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OMORI​

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I grew up in a small village called Omori nestled between

the shores of Lake Taupō and our North Island central plateau.

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CAREER

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After graduating with a Diploma in Visual Communication in Rotorua,

I worked as a graphic designer in Auckland while raising a young family.

I longed to express my individuality through a more natural, hands-on creative approach.

Returning home to Omori allowed me to rediscover balance and reconnect with my cultural and creative roots — shaping the artist I am today.

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SAMOA

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A pivotal moment came in Samoa, where I discovered grains of sand shaped like moons and stars. That experience — followed by finding the golden sands of Kaiteriteri Beach in the South Island — inspired my exploration into sand as a vessel of memory and mauri.​​

 

SAND COLLECTION

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In 2006, I began my ongoing collection of natural materials — sands, shells, stones, driftwood, bark, and fibres. Through years of experimentation, I developed a method of preserving and displaying these taonga, transforming them into artworks that celebrate both the physical and spiritual beauty of te taiao.

 

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