Inspired by nature,
driven by adventure
Hi, I’m Hamish – father, cyclist, short-wearing advocate, avid upcycler, artist & designer.
As a kid, I was never home, always out exploring. I thought all my Christmas’s had come at once when I discovered a pile of old rusty wire at a local dumping pit. I dragged it home, much to my parent’s disgust and started turning it into figurative sculptures.
My obsession with repurposing had begun!
But this isn’t about me, it’s about crafting you a unique artwork that will be cherished for years to come. An heirloom to pass down through the generations. You may have never commissioned an artwork before, let alone walked into a gallery. You might be feeling nervous and unsure on how the process works. And that’s totally normal. But don’t worry, I’m here to make the process as smooth as possible.
I love connecting with people and turning their vision into the extradorinary. Whether it’s an artwork or design, I thrive on turning your idea into a bold reality. I aim to make our project together a true collaboration. Your input is invaluable as I merge your vision with my craftmanship – and ensuring the journey is as rewarding as the destination.
But why should we work with you?
Great question!
My art and design will not resonate with everyone. I totally get it. Art & design is all about personal taste. My practise is shaped by my background and hopes for the future. I have a deeply rooted environmental ethos. There’s enough waste in the world, so I aim to avoid adding to it. At times, this is challenging, it’s defintely a work in progress.
My environmental focus manifest itself through my preference for using recycled resources and at times, the subject mater. Artwork should not cost the earth. Not only will you be getting a hand-crafted artwork, you’ll be helping divert resources from landfill.
As an multidisciplinary artist, my work spans sculpture, printmaking and graphic design. I’m obsessed with crafting exceptional artwork and design that provides beauty, evokes emotion and allows you to express your indivuduality. So together, let’s forge an unforgettable experience into a timeless work of art.
Hungry for more?
I love that you’re inquisitive, it’s important that you get to know me before we work together.
Since I’m spilling the beans about what makes me tick, then there is a very important thing you should know. I’m a shorts-enthusiast. Shorts are my go-to clothing choice, I love them! On rear occasions, I’m forced to wear my ankle-skimming shorts. I try to limit wearing those, they’re not good for my short-wearing reputation. So there it is, let’s just keep that between the two of us.
Between my next hair-brained creation and choosing the perfect pair of shorts, I'll be out exploring. By bike of course! There is nothing better than having the freedom to explore our awesome backyard! It’s also great for getting the creative juices flowing; many an idea has been conceived while out riding.
Client feedback
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“"We were very lucky to buy ‘Rising Warning’ which he dreamt up and we commissioned. It met all our expectations. Hamish has so many unique ideas and is flexible, accommodating and very easy to deal with. We are thrilled and look forward to the discussion that surrounds our special sculpture."
Suni Eckhoff
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“We wanted an artwork to commemorate our engagement, which also tied in with our love of New Zealand and its landscape. We chose Hamish because we’d seen his artwork before and really loved the aesthetic of his chared timber pieces, the fact that his work using reclaimed materials and that a lot of your work is a response to NZ’s natural world. Hamish talked us through the process really well for people who had never bought original art before, let alone commissioned it! We felt able to give enough input without stepping on Hamish’s toes, and really enjoyed that he gave us a range of possible designs. The only problem was choosing which was our favourite!”
Ed Millington
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“Who let the cat out of the bag’ makes a wonderful contribution to our garden. The scale, size and sense of movement it conveys coupled with the absurdity of a large cat jumping out of a handbag contributes to its overall impact. We sited the piece near our front gate where the lioness is set to jump over a fence and pounce on arriving visitors. The level of craftsmanship and details is impressive and forms an whimsical collision between artistic sensibility and engineering excellence.”
Bob Vaile & Frances Scott
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We had long dreamed of having a sentinel sculpture on our rural property at Wainui, Banks Peninsula. We’ve always loved the symbolism of a circle — reflecting the continual cycle of life. Having never commissioned a sculpture before, we felt a little nervous at first. But knowing Hamish and his work gave us confidence that he would bring our vision to life. Hamish really listened and provided several concept designs, explaining the inspiration and reasoning behind each one. In the end, the choice was clear, and the creative process began. Throughout the journey, we received regular updates and loved watching the sculpture evolve. Finally, the day arrived when it was installed overlooking Akaroa Harbour — the moment of truth! Breathtaking. That was our first reaction. We had an idea of what it might look like, but the form and the setting together were simply perfect. Hamish delivered our vision 100%. Now, every day, we can reflect on the sculpture and be reminded of what it represents for us.
Lawrence & Hillary Smith
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Through my art, I’ve explored two main themes, using humour to portray idioms in unexpected ways and addressing environmental issues. While these two themes seem poles apart, they feed into each other, and the idioms provide a breather from the acute environmental work. With my environmental work, I intend to focus attention on our devalued relationship with our ecosystem by critically examining the collateral effects of our evolution.
Humankind is experiencing unprecedented environmental crises, many of which are of our making. The globe is warming, glaciers are shrinking, entire ecosystems are disappearing, and people are being displaced. These are the most critical problems of our time. Our leaders either kick the issues down the road or deny them to fuel their own agenda.
I honestly believe that society will change when enough people alter how they think about their relationships to our planet. Our society acts like animals; plants and landscapes are only valuable if they serve our purpose and we exploit everything else with such brutality. I want to challenge this and help people to understand that community doesn’t end with other humans – our community includes every animal, plant, landscape, and natural element. By developing a symbiotic relationships with the entire ecosystem, there is hope our species can live in harmony with the natural world.
Art can be a catalyst for change. Art challenges the status quo by sparking conversations about critical issues. By engaging audiences on an emotional level, art can inspire empathy and action. It’s a lofty goal, but failing to do nothing is accepting failure!
Biography
2025
• Tai Tapu Sculptural Garden
’Aftermath’, ‘Goldrush’, & ‘As nature intended’
2024/25
• Auckland Botanical Gardens
‘The trouble land 1 & 2’ & ‘Beyond the troubled land 1, 2, 3 & 4’
2024
• Tai Tapu Sculptural Garden
’Yogi can’t bear this any longer’ and ‘Upheaval’
2023
• Tai Tapu Sculptural Garden
’Current ripples’, ‘Peak flow’ and ‘Life source’
2022
• St Margaret’s College Art Exhibition
2021
• Tai Tapu Sculptural Garden
’Evolution Chaos’
2020
• Miscellany Exhibition at Little River Gallery
(including Ben Reid & Tania Bostock)
2019
• Sculpture on the Peninsula
’One trick pony’
2018
• St Margaret’s College Art Exhibition
• Imprint Exhibition at Little River Gallery
(including Sofia Minson, Melissa Sharplin & Kate Beatty)
2017
• Full Circle Exhibition at Little River Gallery
(with Tania Bostock)
• Paradox Exhibition at Chambers Gallery
(with Rebecca Harris)
• Sculpture on the Peninsula
‘Dogs breakfast’ & ‘Two sides to every story’
2016
• Art in the Garden
‘Elliot felt sheepish about his current predicament’
2015
• Sculpture on the Peninsula
‘Who let the cat out of the bag?’ & ‘George wasn’t amoosed by all this hanging around’
• Whole House Reuse Exhibition at Canterbury Museum
‘Role Reversal lamps’, ‘Richter shelf’, ‘Oh Deer, who’s going to lead Santa’s sleigh?’ & ‘Admiral’s Treasure Table’
2014
• Little River Gallery
(assorted mixed media works that where part of a two person show)
2013
• Ellerlie Flower Show
‘High Flyer’ & ‘Hanging Out’
• Rekindle Off-cut series
(a series of works made from weatherboard offcuts)
• Sculpture on the Peninsula
‘Teaching an old dog new tricks’ & ‘Global Warning’
2012
• Ellerlie Flower Show
‘Mind the Gap’
• Art in a Garden
‘Pippy’
2011
• Sculpture on the Peninsula
‘Water Restrictions’
• Art in a Garden
‘Inner Beauty’ & ‘Uncle Abert: a Chiropractors Nightmare’
Get in touch
After a piece of art made just for you?
I can help with that.
Or if you’re a short wearing aficionado, then definitely get in touch.