Some of my earliest childhood memories are of staying with my grandparents for the weekend and catching the bus to Brighton seafront on the South Coast of England. I was fascinated by the rows and rows of colourful beach huts and the grandeur of the Regency architecture.

Upon arriving in Wellington, I felt that same sense of fascination with the colour and individuality of my new home, from the multi-coloured boatsheds to the villas scattered amongst the hills and bush.

My paintings are a reflection of the joy of my childhood and the happiness that I have felt from living in Wellington. They capture clear blue skies and the greens of the native trees and flora. They trace the way that buildings evolve over time whether through new coats of paint or the effects of nature.

Working in acrylic, my paintings are characterised by close attention to the textures and shapes of the natural and built world. This may be the peeling paint of a boatshed, a rusty hinge or the strong shadows created by the brightness of the sun.

I also create intricate pen drawings of the quintessential Wellington scenes of villas hanging on the hillside, their shapes and angles softened by the greenery that surround them. In addition, I have also been invited to draw people’s houses where I capture what it is that is important to them about their home and its place in the landscape.

I am a largely self-taught artist, and I work from my studio in Tawa, Wellington. I have been a finalist in many national and local art exhibitions such as the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize in Wanaka, the Walker & Hall Art Awards on Waiheke Island and the Tasman National Art Awards. I have also exhibited at both Mitchell Studios and the Kiwi Art House Gallery in Wellington and the Bottle Creek Gallery at Pataka Museum + Art, Porirua. My work can be found at the Kiwi Art House Gallery and the Toi Store at Pataka. Visits to my studio are welcome by appointment. and I am open to commissions.

You can also follow me on Instagram: jillsuttonartist