Femke Koome

Femke Koome has been a part-time resident of Mangawhai since 1993 and divides her time between her Auckland and Mangawhai homes. After an initial career as a professional cellist Femke retrained as an occupational therapist and had a successful and busy career in child mental health, while also bringing up her own family. Femke has always painted and sketched since a young age and in her early twenties settled on watercolour as her happy medium.

Since her retirement as a health professional, Femke Koome dedicates her life to her growing family and her rediscovered creativity. After a gap of 20 years Femke has taken her watercolour talents further and recently launched her new career as a watercolourist on art websites, as well as exhibiting in local galleries. Femke has successfully exhibited at the Mangawhai Gallery as well as in other venues, and continues to branch out, selling works in the international collectors community.

Femke’s watercolours have a loose, semi-abstract style and are inspired by New Zealand’s land and seascapes, and any subject that her keen eye for the beautiful and unusual captures. Femke uses pure watercolours as well as combining watercolour with ink or charcoal. Femke’s watercolours have a loose, semi-abstract style and are inspired by New Zealand’s land and seascapes, as well as colourful vibrant florals. Her bold and striking brush strokes give her paintings her signature exuberant style.

Femke offers a watercolour course for beginners and an advanced level floral watercolour course at the Mangawhai Art Gallery workspace every year (contact the gallery admin for details), and from 2025 will be teaching watercolour classes during the summer Art Season at Château de Saint Germain des Prés in the Dordogne, France.