Expressions of Interest

Greg Gibb 

Greg first picked up a paintbrush about 14 years ago. Largely self-taught, I attended a painting course while living in Australia. Until then, I had always believed I couldn't draw and had no talent for painting. 

I learned two valuable lessons: first, that painting can be learned by anyone, and second, that you're only ever painting one thing, not trees, people or landscapes, but light.

I began painting in acrylics before discovering oils. I was drawn to their slower drying time and the freedom they give to move paint around the canvas. More recently I've embraced water-soluble oils, which offer those same qualities while being a healthier medium to work with.

After having a bach in Mangawhai for 25 years, we built our permanent home there two years ago. A dedicated studio above the garage has become an important part of my process. It allows paintings to develop at their own pace, with room to leave work unfinished, return to it with fresh eyes, and simply spend time looking.

My earlier work focused on hyper-realistic fish painted against abstract backgrounds.  I enjoyed the

tension between realism and abstraction. More recently my focus has shifted to landscapes, inspired by photographs but painted more from memory than from the image itself. Faithfully reproducing a photograph feels more like illustration to me. I am more interested in creating a painting that reflects my experience of a place than a literal record of it.

The process of painting still feels mysterious. Some of my greatest mistakes have, with patience and perseverance, become my greatest successes, and there are times when I honestly don't know how a painting has arrived where it has. My greatest fear is that I won't be able to do it again. Yet experience has taught me that time, persistence and a willingness to experiment usually find a way through.

These paintings represent some of those small triumphs. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much

as I have enjoyed creating them.

Dell Pryor

Dell is an established New Zealand figurative sculptor with a career spanning more than three decades. She began her practice in portraiture, sculpting notable New Zealanders including Dame Whina Cooper, Sir Peter Blake, and former Prime Minister Sir Rob Muldoon who sat for her.

Her work is held in private collections in New Zealand and internationally. While best known for her figurative sculpture, Pryor's practice has evolved to include ceramic and bronze works exploring wildlife sculptures inspired by endangered species and conservation.

In 2023, she collaborated with sculptor Susan Dinkerlacker on the public bronze memorial to renowned bird rescuer Robert Webb at Tutukaka Marina.

Working across ceramic and bronze, Pryor combines traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary sculptural vision that explores the enduring connections between people and the natural world.