Hi. My name is Birgitt Shannon. I moved to Katikati from Australia in 2013.

I started painting at a very young age (yes…like most artists I was born to paint) and in my twenties and thirties attended night classes at the Geelong Fine Art School.

Since arriving in New Zealand, I have been involved in numerous solo and group exhibitions and was chosen to paint a cow for the Morrinsville Herd of Cows Street Art Project which is standing outside the Morrinsville Museum. I also painted a piano for Katch Katikati which is at the Arts Junction, Katikati for anyone to play.

My style is constantly changing although there are two things that rarely change; my love of bright, bold colours and a recurring theme of circles.

I work mainly in acrylics and ink but enjoy attending workshops to broaden my range of techniques. These have included oil painting, printmaking, mixed media and encaustics. Yes…I’m still learning, and I believe trying new things can only help me grow as an artist.

When I start a new work, I have no idea what the finished painting will look like. For me, this is what makes painting exciting. I start and it just flows from me without having to plan too far ahead. Sometimes I start with a theme or colour scheme, sometimes just random marks, but never a complete plan. Unless I’m doing a commission which I’m happy to do if you like my work but can’t quite find what you’re looking for.

I have sold many paintings that hang in private collections and businesses in Australia, New Zealand and England, as well as one that is hanging in a Research Centre at The Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles.

I was runner-up at the 2018 Trustpower/TSA Supreme Award and in 2019 was selected as a finalist for the 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards.

As well as painting I sell a range of cards and notebooks with my art on them, have recently started making jewellery incorporating my art, coordinate exhibitions at the Atrium Gallery in Whakamarama and look after my husband and 43 chickens.

Contact:
Email – birgittart@gmail.com
Website – www.artbybirgitt.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/artbybirgittnz