Sue Wild


Address: Te Marua, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Phone: +64 04 526 7304 | 027 444 8865

Watercolour New Zealand past President (2010-2012), past Vice-President (2012 - 2020), past Newsletter Editor, current Secretary, Workshops & Courses Coordinator.


Back in 1973 in Austria, I paused my ski-instructing as I was pregnant and borrowed a toboggan. Armed with a small set of paints and paper from the village shop I climbed the snowy slopes to sit and paint the glorious alpine scenery. I found delight and even satisfaction. Back home in New Zealand I was amazed to find one of my efforts framed and hung in my parents home.

My delight is in quick lively pen-and-wash sketches of places I go, people I see, home and away. So watercolour is favourite for me, being portable and quick-drying.Im captivated by the challenge of painting in watercolour. When pigments are floated in water they create beautiful colour blends, transparent glows, mysterious darks. Watercolour flows and explores and I love to go exploring with it.
In time I discovered Watercolour New Zealand and a wonderful world of new friends. I joined the committee and in 2009 stepped into the large shoes of Alfred Memelink taking a 2-year term as president. I handed the position on when, having reached retirement, my husband and I began taking annual three-month trips to Europe. Lucky us! Whats more, he would fish for even longer hours than I would paint! Over five years I produced a pile of sketchbooks full of annotated travel paintings. My watercolour kit comes everywhere with me. Painting 'on site' means the chance to feel the mood of the day. I love to wander off to the hills, valleys, beaches and villages in New Zealand and anywhere - to paint especially with friends.

In 2012 I was the artist on the Royal Tour of New Zealand by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. A huge privilege and a huge challenge!

Meanwhile I became the engine room for Watercolour New Zealand. I expanded our repertoire of activities, introducing competitions, challenges, sketch crawls, outdoor painting week and making Paintaways bi-annual. My qualifications in information technology enabled me to streamline organisational processes. I was newsletter editor for ten years and enjoyed developing an informative, publication full of beautiful watercolours. I am now secretary and I organise the workshops. Over the last decade, John Toft and I have built an archive of oral history including interviews with artists, images of their paintings and photographs. Now I am delighted to see new hands taking up the reins of many activities. Im proud to be a guiding member in such an active Society.

I live in the village of Te Marua in Upper Hutt, north of Wellington and love to travel my country and painting the scenery - from Alps to Oceans. Please visit my studio by appointment.