True North on an Eastern Shore

SOLD 1200mm x 1000mm Acrylic on canvas Winner of the Supreme Award and First place in its category at the Harcourts, Bigs Arts Day Out - Whangamata 2026. Set within a softened, dreamlike vision of Whangamatā, where land, sea and sky feel gently suspended in time. A young girl stands at the water’s edge, her gaze turned outward, yet her compass points inward. Her “true north” is not a place, but a purpose - found in care, guardianship, and quiet connection. A dotterel rests on her shoulder, trusting and close, while a tara iti (fairy tern) walks beside her, fragile and watchful. In the distance, an oystercatcher marks the shoreline, anchoring the scene to the rhythms of the coast. Above, a huia and a ruru sit in the sky - one lost to history, one still watching over the night - reminding us of what has already slipped away, and what remains. The figures are small against the vastness of the landscape, emphasising both humility and responsibility. This work speaks to the intimate bond between humans and Aotearoa’s native wildlife, and to the fragile future held within our care. It is a meditation on protection, remembrance, and the quiet power of choosing to face true north - even when the world feels uncertain.