Christchurch artist Harriet Millar rediscovered her passion for painting only after successfully outsourcing her five children to school. With a well-earned window of creative freedom, she now paints in acrylic, having learned the hard way that oil paints, curious kids, and freshly painted furniture don’t mix.

Harriet’s work is a vibrant homage to the magic of the New Zealand landscape. Her paintings are rich in texture, built up through generous layers of paint, loose, expressive brushstrokes, and the occasional burst of unexpected colour.

“I’ve always drawn, it's all I ever did as a kid,” she says. “Aside from a year at art school, I’m self-taught. I picked up painting again when the youngest started school, and finally had a bit of time for myself. A workshop in 2018 with Richard Claremont, my favourite artist, really helped shape my direction and I haven’t looked back.”