I was born in the deep south, Tuatapere, gateway to Fiordland. I grew up among some stunning scenery but it wasn’t really until I travelled the world that I saw just how special it was.

I am a Christchurch based, self-taught artist painting semi-abstract landscapes that are earthy and textural. My paintings are inspired by New Zealand landscape, particularly Central Otago, Mackenzie Country and Canterbury. 

My works are descriptive of landforms shaped by both natural forces and man. Weathering, erosion and human activity lead to an ever-changing terrain.

There is often a touch of both flora and water in my paintings that allude to the idea of the land sustaining life. 

The paintings have layers of colour and texture through which I chisel, scrape, eliminate, add back and interact with the painting to reveal the essence of a landscape.

I hope painting our NZ landscape may encourage the viewer to recognise the beauty of the land and to feel responsibility for looking after it.

Christine Maynard

Revealing Landscapes

Slices of strata, a timeline laid down.

Rust, coal and limestone, sienna brown.

Ruler road parting the landscape, a seam.

Ridges and valleys, meandering streams.

Convey it with pigment, the colour of clay,

abstracted view, strip the detail away.

You bring to the painting, the places you’ve seen,

the loveliest places that you’ve ever been.

The place of my birth,

a landscape of dreams.

Megan Gainsford