Open Art Studios Upper Harbour 2026 Preview

Step into my home‑based wire‑sculpture studio and discover a world where metal twists into expressive art.

As a self-taught artist, I blend craftsmanship with interactive fun. Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience of weaving and shaping metal wire themselves, guided by hands‑on sculpting stations.

The exhibition showcases a mix of hanging and table‑mounted wire sculptures that spark curiosity and conversation, plus a selection of original paintings available for purchase. Guests can watch the creative process, try their own wire weaving, and take home a unique sculpture or painting from the showcase.

Step into Designed by Sue Art Studio and explore vibrant, engaging artworks in mixed media, and creative workshops. With six years of experience connecting people through art, Sue invites you to see live demonstrations, try your hand at techniques, and purchase original pieces or commission your own custom artwork.

At Designed by Sue Studio, art is all about connection. Sue, an experienced artist and founder of this Albany-based studio, creates expressive watercolour and mixed media works inspired by diverse cultures and community experiences.

Visitors can:
Watch live demonstrations of techniques in action.
Try small hands-on activities or mini workshops.
Explore and purchase original artworks, prints, and limited editions.
Discuss commissions or custom projects directly with the artist.

The studio reflects Sue’s passion for creativity and cultural connection, offering a warm, inviting space for art lovers of all ages. From beginners trying a brush stroke to collectors seeking unique pieces, everyone is welcome to enjoy the process and be inspired.

Welcome to MeadCeramics Studio

We are blessed to have several guest artists in the studio this year. Myself, Adam Spencer and Abby Sly will be in my working/teaching studio creating vessels and available to chat about our work in functional and sculptural ceramics.

Margaret Sumich, an award winning potter with a wealth of experience will be on site to share her words of inspiration in making and creating.

Sheree Foster, an award winning multimedia artist, is always exciting to share tea with as she discusses what inspires her various pursuits with materials such as photographs, copper wire, paint, and discarded items into self-expression.

Melissa Mead
I'm Melissa Mead, a passionate potter with 18 years experience in pottery. My journey has taken me from South Africa to New Zealand through hand-building, wheel throwing, and various firing techniques, allowing me to explore the endless possibilities of this beautiful craft. For the past 7 years, I've been sharing my love for pottery with the community in Auckland through teaching and markets.

I’m a maker of functional-ware as well as exploring our community connections through mixed clay forms.

Whats on Offer:
Demonstrations all day on the the wheel and / or hand-building. Nibbles and Tea while you chat with the artists about their creative journey and artwork. An array of works to inspire creativity.

Apollo Clay and Art is a beautiful, light-filled creative space for ceramics and mixed media art. The studio offers pottery and art classes, workshops, and private events in a safe, welcoming environment. Over the weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to sign up for these sessions. The gallery also displays original artwork and functional ceramics from our tutors. Throughout the weekend, there will be live demonstrations from ceramist Joanne Fairley and mixed media artist Jacqueline Letham. Everyone is welcome.

Joanne Fairley – Ceramist, Tutor, and Facilitator
Ceramic artist Joanne Fairley has been teaching and running her pottery studio for over five years. Her love for clay began in her garage and has since developed into the beautiful studio in Apollo Drive. She will be demonstrating various pottery techniques throughout the weekend and is always happy to share her passion. Joanne is the primary ceramic tutor at Apollo Clay and Art, which offers termly classes, one-off workshops, and private events.

Jacqueline Letham
Mixed media artist Jacqueline enjoys creating paintings with many materials. Texture, colour and mark making bring emotion into all her artworks.

With a background in fashion and textiles Jacqueline brings a sense of design into her creations. She also creates bird assemblages from found objects under the name of Wingit. Living and working between east and west coasts and the Waitamata harbour she is never short of inspiration.

Jacquline likes to find the emotion or a sense of place within her work, characteristics that remain with you long after. Each painting encourages the viewer to look closer, drawing them in to reveal new details and hidden meanings. Perhaps showing you a different and unfamiliar world.

Jacqueline has been an artist/maker for well over 20 years, graduating from uni with a degree in fashion and textile design. Following this she has created various artefacts and sold my work in London, Cornwall and after relocating 20 years ago, to collectors in Aotearoa.

Jacqueline also run art workshops, where I enjoy sharing the experience of creativity.

Welcome to Mount Top Studio, a vibrant family art space where surrealism, expressionism, and wood sculpture come alive.

Visitors to the studio can explore a dynamic collection of surrealist paintings by Deng Xinli, expressionist works by Xie Yi and Tian Kai Deng, and handcrafted wood sculptures that blend tradition with modern vision.

Xie Yi
Xie Yi is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist working in oil painting, ink wash, digital visual technology, and mixed media. Rooted in Eastern philosophy, her work integrates Zen aesthetics and Daoist cosmology, creating a visual language that merges ethereal lyricism with contemporary experimentation.

Deng Xinli
Deng Xinli is a seminal practitioner of Chinese contemporary surrealism, demonstrating distinct transcultural characteristics in his artistic evolution.

Kai Deng (Mark)
Kai Deng is a self-taught expressionist artist. He is now 18 years old and graduated from Westlake Boys’ High School.

Wicklam Bush Studio is the creative home of Lesley Pearce, a textile and mixed media artist inspired by the native bush surrounding her on Wicklam Lane. Her work explores layers, light, negative space, and machine embroidery.

Lesley offers group workshops in breakdown, gelli, and block printing, with technique demonstrations available on open days.

An invitation to meet Julie and Michael Freeman (Internationally recognised Pastel Artists) in their studio environment while they are working on their hyper realistic pastel paintings. They will be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have related to their artwork, art journey, and their processes, materials and techniques. They will have original artwork for sale, plus you can order Limited Edition Prints.

Barry Ross Smith
Barry Ross Smith is an oil painter creating surreal imagery of islands dotted with colonial villas and oversized birds. His works obliquely draw concern for our environment and the after effects of colonialism upon our native species. They feature in public, private and corporate collections across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, North America and Asia.

New work usually begins with a few sessions in the studio surrounded by books, an iPad and a stick of charcoal, pencil or brush in hand. Often days go by sketching, researching concepts, procrastinating, daydreaming and drinking black coffee.

"Creating new ideas is intuitive, it means not knowing what you're looking for - but knowing when you see it"

Louise Auld
Louise is an Auckland-based painter creating atmospheric abstract works that explore light, depth and quiet colour relationships. Working in layered oil pigments, her paintings evolve slowly through blending and soft transitions, allowing subtle shifts in tone and luminosity to emerge. Her work reflects a fascination with stillness, mood and the emotional qualities of colour, creating pieces that feel calm, contemplative and quietly immersive.

Sarah’s predominantly abstract quilts are made as textile art. Many spaces in her home feature innovative quilt art, from bold and bright to more restful limited colour palettes. Both large eye-catching works and small pieces demonstrate design, construction, stitching and quilting skills of an experienced maker.

Her work has received awards at numerous NZ Quilt Symposiums since 2001 and a piece on display was juried into Quilt National 2021, in Ohio. A major influence in her work has been US innovator and teacher Nancy Crow.

Visitors can see work in progress, with a quilt developing on the design wall and the stages of stitching.