We are delighted to welcome Tauranga-based contemporary painter, Shona Mackenzie, to the Parnell Gallery stable of artists.

Mackenzie’s work is an expressive exploration of her profound connection to the natural world and the landscapes that have shaped her identity. Her semi-abstract paintings in mixed media on canvas draw inspiration from the fleeting beauty of nature — the movement of a breeze across a field or the soft mist that clings to a forest at dawn — capturing these delicate moments with an emotive intensity.

As a visual collector, Shona instinctively gathers these transient moments, observing them carefully before storing them in her subconscious to then, in time, reappear unbidden in her paintings. Her studio process is intuitive, often allowing the work to evolve in unexpected ways. Rarely beginning with a firm idea of how a piece will resolve, Shona embraces the unpredictability of the process, letting the image unfold through layers of texture and expressive mark-making. The resulting works are rich in depth, with translucent acrylics and tactile surfaces that invite the viewer to engage with the emotional resonance of each piece.

Shona’s artistic practice is defined by a reverence for her sense of place, reflecting her dual heritage from New Zealand and Scotland. Her work is a personal reflection of belonging, echoing the generational memories and emotional ties to the lands that have formed her sense of home.

Recently Mackenzie was awarded the Gold Award in Arts Shows Across Aotearoa, which came with $20,000 in prize money. She has been flown from her home in Tauranga to Christchurch for a lunch where she receives the prize, sponsored by Stuff.
You can read more about this award, here.

To view all details and more information about Shona MacKenzie, please click here.