My Hill Series is inspired by the distinctive landscape of the Te Uku hills, whose rolling forms and changing light have been a constant presence in my life. For more than twenty-five years, travelling regularly between Raglan and Hamilton, I have experienced these hills in all seasons and weather conditions. This long familiarity has created a deep connection to the landscape and an appreciation of its subtle variations, rhythms, and moods.
While the Te Uku hills provide the starting point, the paintings are not intended as literal representations. I seek to capture the character and movement of the land rather than a specific view. The contours become a framework through which colour, space, and atmosphere can be explored.
An important aspect of the series is the subtle evidence of human presence within the landscape. Roads carved into hillsides, fences following the contours of the land, and the occasional water trough are recurring elements that find their way into the paintings.
This series reflects both a personal relationship with the Te Uku landscape and an ongoing fascination with the visual language of contour. I aim to capture not only the beauty of the Te Uku hills but also the enduring relationship between people and place.
When the contours speak, they tell stories of land, memory, and the traces we leave behind.
