Claire Broughton
W A T E R C O L O U R I S T
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A love of botanicals inspires my painting....
My studio at home in Matamata, New Zealand.
About me and my work
I found my passion for watercolour painting quite late on in life when I was aged 40. I have always loved playing with colour and as a child always had packs of crayons, felt tips, paints and pastels in my school satchel and after school would be found colouring-in and painting, not that I was any good! Later in life I collected books on watercolour painting and my journey with art started.
I have admired water colour paintings for years and always wanted to have a go myself but had no formal training and didn’t really know where to start. I was given some watercolours as a birthday gift, picked some pansies out of the garden and started sketching. I wasn’t very good and my attempts at watercolour messy, but with practice and time I discovered the magical qualities of how the paints flow and blend, I was hooked! I found the process of learning very therapeutic.
In 2007 we moved to New Zealand from the UK and in 2010 was lucky enough to get a place on a workshop with Susan Tustain-Harrison, a New Zealand artist, who helped me find the next level with my painting and whose encouragement was invaluable.
In 2016 I completed a certificate in Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration course through the University of Newcastle, Australia. This really provided an excellent understanding of drawing, especially botanical drawing which in turn has helped me to achieve realistic watercolour paintings.
Mother nature is my huge inspiration of which I will never tire. I prefer to paint from life subjects but as my work takes many, many hours I also use reference photos for back up.
I have taken part in and sold my work (originals, prints and cards) at:-
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The Botanical Art Society of New Zealand “Botanica 2018 Exhibition” at the Akaroa Art Gallery, Akoroa on the South Island, New Zealand.
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The Friends of The Gardens Art Group “In Memory of Banks & Solander Exhibition” from 12 July to 18 August 2019 at the Auckland Botanical Gardens, New Zealand.
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The Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Nr Cambridge, New Zealand and profits go towards the upkeep of this sacred place.
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The Chamber Gallery, Rangiora, Nr Christchurch New Zealand South Island for their Exhibition "Botanica 2019" 22 September - 31 October 2019.
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Featured in The New Zealand Artist Magazine, March/April 2020 edition:-
https://indd.adobe.com/view/a18b98b4-e8b3-47a3-979d-2b34b23c9d7b?fbclid=IwAR38K- VAEXk_1zDDTGQeQWuK6J3ylXzFZDR2hDrlZPuBkH51pejQtei_hSg
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"The Big Show of Little Botanical Works 2020", Auckland Botanical Gardens 01 August to 30 October 2020 (with some interruption due to lockdown).
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"The Art of Healing Medicine, Myth & Magic", Auckland Botanical Gardens 23 April to 03 July 2022.
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"Botanica", Welcome Swallow Gallery, Hamilton 06 May to 30 June 2022.
My absolute passion is botanical painting. Mother nature is a huge inspiration of which I will never tire and where I try to gather my own specimens and capture my own photographs for reference as much as possible.
I am a member of the Botanical Artist of Society New Zealand and a Friend of the Auckland Botanical Gardens which has enabled me to take part in exhibitions.
I love to receive inquiries about commissions – please get in touch!
Commissions
I am delighted to take commissions, please see Ordering Information for more details.
Whatever you commission they make great gifts for friends and family or even yourself!
Gift Vouchers are also available for any amount and will be presented in a hand painted card. Please enquire at Say Hello
If you have any questions at all please Say Hello and I will reply as soon as I can!
News!
I am very excited to be featured in August 2019 monthly edition of the newsletter sent out from Sanctuary Mountain, a place very close to my heart and whose gift shop stocks a selection of my cards and giclees that are appropriate to the fauna and flora found within their mountain sanctuary.
In 2022 Sanctuary Mountain held an auction night to raise money in order to allow them to home the rare Kakapo which will be introduced there. I am so proud that my painting of the New Zealand Native Fuchsia was auctioned to help raise funds on that evening!