Introducing Kumeu Arts Staff
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Christine Rose: Chairperson
I was heavily involved with creation of both the Kumeu Arts Centre and the Kumeu Children's Art Club, and I am the current Chairperson of Kumeu Arts and have been for many years. I am a believer in the creative and social development opportunities of the arts for individual and public benefit. As well as being on the committee, I am an active artist, and I am passionate about many varied media including: ceramics, painting, writing, knitting, crochet and much more. BA (hons), Politics and Philosophy, Cert Env.law |
Jago Neal: Manager
I was born into a family of artists and photographers and art has always been integral to me. I originally come from London where I attained my B.A in art and design. My desire to paint and draw the world around me led me to travel extensively and after visiting New Zealand with my wife we decided to move here. I find this country hugely inspiring and feel that it is a lovely environment to raise my two girls.
I have taught art in a variety of places; an Indian orphanage, Auckland secondary schools and our very own Kumeu arts Centre. I place huge value on arts education. I am also a practicing artist and have exhibited in a range of galleries in the U.K and New Zealand.
I am thrilled to be the current Manager of Kumeu Arts. My intention is to serve the community, help to facilitate the wonderful resources on offer here and move the Centre forward into exciting new directions.
My role here is to curate the galleries, book exhibitions, organize classes and events here and to oversee the every-day running of the space. Feel free to write or come in and talk to me about how I can help Kumeu Arts Centre serve your needs.
www.facebook.com/jagonealartist
Yvonne Abercrombie: Administrator
Yvonne Abercrombie was born in 1982 Warkworth, New Zealand.
Growing up in the country, Yvonne cultivated an affiliate connection to her natural surroundings. This lingers in her painting practice as an underlining reminiscent subject.
Yvonne Abercrombie completed the Master of Design degree 2015 – 2017, during which time she developed a body of figurative and expressionist portrait paintings. Applying the figure to an undisclosed abstract landscape is where Yvonne's practice is situated. The marrying of subject, imagination and the illusive behavior of paint is the artists devise.
Yvonne started her role at Kumeu Arts as part time administrator. This has now developed into full time administration, front of house and working alongside Jago with involvement in exhibitions, a role that Yvonne says she "feels at home in.'
https://www.yvonneabercrombie.com/
Introducing our tutors
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Amber Emm:Realism Painting Tutor
I have been teaching at Kumeu Art Centre since 2012. I have found a haven of like minded and supportive friends and an ever improving building. My style of teaching in hands on. Everyone comes with his or her own project and whether they are complete novice or experienced painters get help individually. I work my way around the students one by one helping them with their individual journey whether it is in watercolour, acrylic or oils. I can advise or show how to improve on technique, colours, use of brushes, and order of process, layout and design, etc and onto selling. There are around 8-12 students per class and I have a policy if you pay for 10 consecutive classes and know you will miss some you can make them up in any of my other classes as long as it is in your 10 weeks. The classes are friendly and talkative and I have several students who have been coming to me for years not because they haven’t learnt anything but for the friends and atmosphere and support they find in my classes. My background is a tradesman sign writer (before the computers took over) having had my own business for 10 years till I either had to get all the computer gear to compete or get out so saw it as a chance to GET PAINTING. I am represented by 3 Auckland galleries and do regular exhibitions. I have been published in “New Zealand’s Favorite Artists” twice and have won numerous awards over the years.I was talked into teaching in 1998 and have loved it ever since. I have become great friends with many of my students and value their input into my life as I feel I get as much for them as they do from me. |
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Lesley Smith: Botanical Art Tutor
BA(Hons) Graphic Design, DipSBA(Dist) I fondly remember a book my Aunt Betty gave me when I was about 8 or 9. It was titled 'How to draw Flowers' and I loved copying the drawings and 'having a go'. I've no idea where it is now and as other hobbies came and went I forgot all about it. Little did I know that some 30+ years later I would be experiencing that joy again, finding delight in painting both the ordinary and the spectacular plants in all their infinite varieties … and remembering that book! I have always loved 'creating', whether it be knitting, card making, painting or making costumes or scenery for my children's school plays, but it was the chance visit to an exhibition of botanical art back in the 90s in London that set me, although unknowingly then, on the path to where I am today. I had just completed a degree in Graphic Design at Middlesex University in North London, where I specialized in Scientific Illustration. So began a career in medical illustration drawing on my knowledge from previous nursing days which would, or so I thought, satisfy me for years to come. However I soon became disillusioned when computer generated illustration started to take over scientific illustration. My watercolour skills were becoming obsolete in the medical field and they needed a new outlet. My first foray into botanical art was when the UK Clematis Society asked me to paint a Clematis of my choice for the cover of their journal. By this time, art was on the back burner as we had 3 young children and I was back on night duty part time, so I was delighted to be asked. However it was in the middle of our UK winter, with great naivety that I rushed to buy a Clematis from the local garden centre! Yes, they did have some, but of course they were just bare twigs, having been pruned weeks before! Somehow I managed to nurse and cajole the poor specimen indoors which eventually obliged by producing a few leaves and eventually a flower! My love of botanical painting was born! Unfortunately, that was it for many years. Family commitments took over, I was still nursing and art was relegated to the back burner with a few hours snatched here and there. We came back to New Zealand 12 years ago (I married a Kiwi) and again art was more or less a hobby. I worked and still do, in a learning support department of a local college and loved helping the students become the best they can be, watching them grow in confidence. I especially love the art related topics, and take delight in seeing them produce art which they can be proud of. However I never lost my desire to do more botanical illustration, and eventually found a distance learning course run by the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) in the UK. After 2 and a half years of obsessively painting well into the night, and all though the weekends and school holidays, I graduated with a Distinction. Thank you Aunty Betty xx I hope to share my passion with you and inspire you to see the delicate beauty and glorious detail of plants around us and successfully transfer that beauty to paper. |
