Ōtautahi Studios

In this episode I have an inspiring korero with textile designer Kate Watts. Watts is Ōtautahi born and bred but now resides in Ōtepoti where she runs her creative practice out of 120 m2 former butcher shop. Here she sells her own and other artists work, hosts work shop and runs her textile art practice. From her core business of making merino gloves to embroidered coats for the opera to Japanese...

In episode I catch up with Carmen Collie, Belinda Currie and Pippa Mills. We get to hear their story of how friendship and parenting led them to their art practice. How this partnership encouraged them to create the exhibition, ’Wake’, how living in Te Waipapa, Diamond Harbour with the ever changing landscape inspires their work. Three women working in different disciplines, printmaking and Jewell...

In episode 11 I have a wonderful kōrero with fellow jeweller and colleague Debbie Bishop. We delve into her journey where creativity came in later years. How she fell in love with the art of jewellery making through a night class and how life circumstances made her take the plunge going from a 9-5 to being a full time creative and educator. Debbie manages ’Work space’ where she teaches and creates...

In episode ten I have a wonderful kōrero with three of my learners from Risingholme, Annelies Krijgsman- Walker, Abbey Parsons and Sarah Brown. I ask them how they come to enrol in a pottery class, how this muddy pursuit has changed them and what the rewards and challenges are. An inspiring conversation about the benefits of trying something new and how good creating is for us all, Enjoy! 

A bonus episode featuring my extended conversation with Florist Artist Katherine English. Katherine share some wonderful book tips and reads a couple of favourite quotes. We also learn about what to look for when foraging in winter. Enjoy !

In this episode I have a wonderful conversation with the immensely talented Floristry Artist Katherine English. We learn of her love of objects and flowers, something that has been with her since childhood. How she went from a 9-5 admin role which she bravely gave up in order to take on study and change direction later in life. Through her passion for creating beauty and her artistic floristry, sh...

In episode you get to hear a conversation I had with the wondrous multidisciplinary Artist Henry Turner back in January. Henry was home from his art study in Frankfurt, Germany. I think Henry is creative talent personified, his work is a dive into his imaginative and beautiful world, always with depth and great thought behind it. We talk about his steady passage to his practice and how a creative...

In Episode 7 I catch up with the very clever Louann Sidon, Ōtautahi based painter. We learn about her childhood growing up in Australia where she was immersed in creativity through her parents pursuits, her move across the ditch attending high school at Rudolf Steiner here in Ōtautahi, how the convenience of the creating at kitchen table lead her to her main discipline, painting. She speaks of her...

In episode 6 I have a soulful kōrero with the very talented multidisciplinary Artist Brooke Georgia. We sit in her light studio in Waltham talking about her diverse practice, how her sustainable clothing label emerged from her desire to spend her time in the studio, about keeping your creative path alive during challenging circumstances and we get to hear about her latest solo exhibition ’Bleikr’...

In episode 5 I have a heartfelt kōrero with the immensely talented multidisciplinary artist Lucy Dolan Kang. We talk about her path to becoming the artist she is today, about how her ethics has changed her approach to making art and we delve into her thoughts about identity, how her art communicates a sense of belonging and deep appreciation of our land. She speaks of her inspiration and intention...

In episode 4 I have a kōrero with the wondrous Lily Wenmoth, BA student majoring in Philosophy and Economics turned Jeweller. We learn about her journey from academia into the world of gemstones and precious metals, establishing a sought after jewellery range. We talk about existential matters that inspired her to organise three art fundraisers for Palestine with number three being only weeks away...

In this episode I have a conversation with the Inimitable Nichola Shanley. Nicholas career spans over decades and crosses over several mediums, clay being her main focus for the past 10 years. Her work is outer worldly and tells stories from other times. We find out how she acquired a Sea captain’s abode in Lyttelton, why she keeps on returning to Florence and who inspired her latest body of work...

In this episode I have a conversation with painter Rebecca Smallridge. Rebecca creates ethereal work that is closely connected to our natural world, blurring the lines between the real and surreal. Rebecca speaks about her practice, the ups and downs, how she has recently shifted her approach to painting, and she reveals her artistic superpower. She also has a great book recommendation and a tip f...

In this first episode of Ōtautahi Studios we get to know the host Tamara Rookes. She speaks of her upbringing in Sweden and how she came to live in Aotearoa, Ōtautahi. She speaks about her creative practice and how she went from fashion school to working with clay. We get to know about the ideas behind the show and what's to come.