My Story​ & Art

​I am a mixed media artist who loves to explore the possibilities when combining different mediums.  I work from my home studio in Balclutha, New Zealand but can also be found weekends at our 100 year old beach cottage located at Kaka Point on the South Otago coast.

I grew up in a family where drawing was a favourite pass time and making things yourself by hand was part of everyday life.  In 2004 after completing a Diploma of Art And Creativity I committed to becoming a full-time artist, staging my first solo exhibition December 2011 at the Owaka Museum Gallery in the Catlins.

My connection to the natural world informs my inspiration and provides a window to the beauty around me. We only need to stand still and take the time to notice what is present in front of us to find inspiration......the aqua blue of the ocean, thunder in the sky, a seashell, garden flowers, an inky blue night sky.  I seek to focus on the hope and beauty found in these everyday wonders and express it through my art. Time spent near the sea at our cottage has proved to be healing and restorative and has provided me much solace since losing my son in 2018 in a diving accident. In reality beauty and sorrow must co-exist as I forge a path forward with my art.

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The Art - Collage and textural elements continue to feature in my work where paintings are infused with found papers and vintage items. The history and memories that vintage items hold connect them to their past, adding an extra dimension and mystery to the piece. Each painting evolves through a series of repeating layers that can involve collage, paint, inks and varnish.  Each piece is handmade with love and attention to detail.

​Sue x

Sue McPhee

​'Art is about correspondences - making connections with the world and to each other.  It's about love in that sense'
​​~ David Hockney