Five uniquely talented New Zealand artists
Here are five talented New Zealand artists and designers whose creations make unforgettable gifts (because everyone just loves receiving hand-made gifts!).
1. Sara Meade That’s me! Given that my work focuses on two main genres, I feel confident in describing myself as a double creative. My exquisite watercolour images showcase the imaginative to the more botanically rooted, and I love exploring the qualities of watercolour and ink on various textures. A truly stunning 2026 Calendar will be available for sale soon. And for something completely different, my elegant hand-stitched seasonal felt ornaments celebrate the beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand’s fauna, including the spectacular pōhutukawa, kōwhai, kakabeak, and mānuka flowers. Interestingly, I haven’t seen anything else like them on the market. Visit my shop to find a special gift today, including DIY craft kits (under development).
2. My artist friend, Jae Frew, is someone whose talents might be endless. One side of his life consists of his work as a phenomenal photographer, which has taken him all over the globe and into the arms of New Zealand and international celebrities. His latest (and greatest) life is as an artist, using both extinct and still-chirping native New Zealand birds as subjects, photographing and then framing them in enormous native wooden frames that he constructs himself. He has exhibited around New Zealand, making a big splash, and I can’t wait to see what his terrific talent comes up with next.
3. Lynda Hallinan has been part of my consciousness since she was editor of the New Zealand Gardener magazine. Also, most memorably, she ate potatoes from her garden as part of a year eating only what she could grow. What a trooper! I loved reading her articles about this. I’m including her here because her art and design work comes in the form of a gorgeous range of gardening books, her amazing and prolific garden (new design and plantings in development), and her informative and amusing articles, Most importantly, she generously offers a creative space on her farm in Hunua for other artists to provide workshops (including my watercolour artist bestie, Jennifer Duval-Smith, who I’ll personally profile on Sara’s Stories soon).
4. Lesley Alexander is a botanical and nature watercolour artist from Auckland, who I met as part of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens art group. She is inspired by the flora and fauna in the native bush, farmland, and coastline of her nearby landscapes. I particularly love her paintings of often overlooked or imperfect specimens, things that are past their prime, and that hold their own delicate beauty. She’s also an organisational dynamo, as President of the Botanical Art Society of NZ for the past 19 years, among other local and international organisations. Her works are represented as originals, limited-edition giclée prints, and cards. She has also sold printed tea towels, which I snapped up as gifts for my sisters – a family tradition where the beautiful is also the useful.
5. Gretchen Albrecht When I was young, we had a Gretchen Albrecht poster in our house. It was (a little tattered) oval and multi-coloured, and I absolutely loved it, with its bold shapes and hugely confident use of colour. I would stare at those colours for ages, drifting in and out of them. She has become one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent abstract colour-field artists, with work in major public and private collections in New Zealand and overseas. If you are lucky enough to have the cash on hand to buy her work, grab it! Prints are also available at Parnell Gallery and Two Rooms Gallery, among many other locations. Her work was recently exhibited at the fabulous Te Uru Waitakere Art Gallery, and was a huge success.
Finally, here’s a selection of online and physical gift stores and galleries to light up your life with New Zealand-made gifts: The Fantail House, Iko Iko, Mixt, Passion for Paper, The Poi Room, among many others. I am so happy that stores like these are passionate about curating and providing a space for New Zealand artists to showcase and thrive.
Do you have a favourite artist/designer/gallery/shop that is your go-to for gifts? Email me with recommendations for others!
Visit my Sara Meade Design shop to explore my range of watercolour prints, greeting cards, and felt ornaments. I’m also providing felt ornament DIY kits as fully supplied kits, along with PDF knitting patterns for bouncing babies and cosy toes. Watch out for 2026 Calendars coming soon!
Best wishes, Sara
Matarangi Scallop Shell
Walking along Matarangi beach in the Coromandel Peninsula found me stumbling across so many differently coloured scallop shells that I couldn’t help but take a huge collection home with me. This shell is the first in a series of three scallop shell prints, all from Matarangi beach. You can find them in my shop in the Underwater category.
