Watercolour New Zealand painting safari to Napier - a long weekend to paint, enjoy the scenery and each other’s company, glorious days painting the Tukituki river and Te Mata peak from a perfect location.

SHIRLEY SUTTON reports:

What a great way to get back into painting. Years have passed since I’ve been on a safari and experienced the exhilaration of painting ‘en plein air’ in new surroundings. Reuniting with old friends and making new acquaintances, 22 enthusiastic people gathered in Napier full of anticipation and excitement. Joining the crew from Wellington were couples from Auckland and Blenheim, a lady from Dannevirke and local artists.

An overcast sky greeted us on the first day as we headed to the marina. Everyone dispersed to decide what to paint. For me it was the lone fisherman on the quayside and the fishing boats at the wharf. The sun emerged and in the afternoon we moved on to sketch old houses on Bluff Hill. Regrouping for an evening show and tell and a drink back at camp, we marvelled at the diversity of work completed. Dinner was at a local restaurant, ‘The Thirsty Whale’ and we enjoyed a sumptuous meal, getting to know one another and sharing yarns.

The following day, thanks to local artist Richard Moorhead, we were lucky to be invited to paint at a Lodge overlooking the Tuki Tuki River valley, a magnificent location with all facilities. It can be a daunting task to capture a vast landscape on a blank sheet of paper but come lunchtime some vibrant paintings had been accomplished.

Our meal that evening was gallantly prepared by Jan Jeffery, a mammoth effort, much appreciated by the troops. The day’s masterpieces adorned the walls including great renditions of Te Mata Peak and the river valley.

Monday dawned bright and sunny and we headed out in search of our own piece of Napier. For some it was the beautiful spring blossom trees, a sight to behold, and for others it was the iconic art deco buildings. My morning’s subject was the rolling hillside of the Esk Valley. That evening we gathered around the table for a last meal, reminiscing about another successful Watercolour New Zealand safari.