MEET THE NEW FACES OF MAST2026 - Behind the Studio Doors
- Karena de Pont
- Oct 17
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 1
The Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail always feels like an open invitation to explore — a summer wander through studios, gardens, and workshops where creativity hums in every corner. For MAST2026, that experience expands again: 25 new artists are joining the Trail for the first time, adding fresh energy and ideas to a network now boasting 75 artists overall of which 57 are participating in the art trail over the various 32 trail venues.
From Friday 30 January to Sunday 8 February 2026, visitors will be able to meet painters, sculptors, ceramicists, and mixed media makers from Puhoi to Leigh. Here’s your in-depth introduction to the new faces behind those studio doors — their inspirations, materials, and what they hope you’ll discover when you visit.
Brave First Steps: Friends, Nudges and Long-Held Intentions
Some artists have been thinking about joining the Trail for years — others were gently coaxed by friends.
Tania Casey (Venue 14, Goatley Road) laughs as she admits, “I have been attending these exhibitions for a couple of years now and been so inspired with all the talent in your group. Every year I say I have to join. So I finally jumped in and did it — scared and nervous, but looking forward to it.”
Her playful approach to media is bound to charm Trail-goers: “Watercolours are my go to but then a coloured pencil with markers — yes please! Collage is also fun — painting my own paper to cut up, old pictures found in op-shops, and then stitching or gluing onto paper. I am in heaven.”
Sharing a studio can be a perfect way to start. Rosie Leat (Venue 14) joined thanks to a friend’s invitation: “A friend invited me to share studio space with a few of her friends, and I thought, ‘That sounds like fun!’ I am really looking forward to working creatively with other artists, enjoying the company and learning from others in the group.”
Rosie’s practice is all about experimentation: “Whatever I am working with at the time is my favourite! Watercolours for illustration, oils for portraits, acrylics for stylised characters, mixed media and collage for allegory, found objects for industrial art, papier mâché for characters. I would love to make puppets.”
Her creative journey has personal roots too: “My art journey started as a way to ‘talk’ in trauma recovery therapy. It was then that I changed my name also. I was born and bred in London, a ‘True Cockney’ — ‘Rosielea’ is cockney rhyming slang for ‘cuppa tea’, a comforting thing. The underneath of my work is in trying to make sense of the human condition and in creating other worlds.”
Clay, Kiln and Craft — The Earthy Heartbeat of the Trail
Clay features prominently among the new artists, its tactile connection to the earth resonating across several studios.
David Sullivan (Venue 21, Lawrie Road, Snells Beach) has spent 13 quiet years honing his craft before deciding to join. “It’s time now to connect with people in the community who enjoy art — especially ceramics.”
He produces wheel-thrown, wood-fired stoneware: “Everything I make is intentionally unique as I love the random individuality of each piece and the imperfection that arises.” His kiln sits among olive trees. “I love that everything I create comes from my own hands, made in a beautiful place and sourced from natural materials — in contrast to the fast-paced commercial reality we live in.” Visitors, he says, can “see the kiln, the work in progress, and a gallery of finished objects.”
At Venue 25 (Scotts Landing), Juliana Austen is diving in with enthusiasm. “This is my first time on the Trail and I am a little nervous! Fortunately MAN is such a supportive network, and I’m sharing a venue with Glenda Hopkins — I feel in safe hands!”
Juliana’s love of clay is pure and joyful: “I am passionate about clay. I love its feel and texture and the immediacy of hand building it. My creative journey only started three years ago, and I have so much to learn — it is very exciting.”
Mike Reeves (Venue 11, Trail Central — Warkworth Town Hall) will exhibit at the Trail’s hub. “I’m making my debut on the Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail, driven by a desire to connect with fellow artists and achieve sales,” he says. “A platter might serve a wood-fired pizza one day and become a display piece the next.”
Liz Sharek (Venue 26, Green Road, Matakana) also works in clay but with a sculptural sensibility. “My ceramic work is nonfunctional and sculptural but still based around the recognisable forms of the vessel. Its process-led, exploring big textural surfaces and snowy glazes. I love the immediacy of working with clay.”
She brings a rich background in glass casting: “I cast glass for many years before moving to the Mahurangi area about 10 years ago and have work in the Te Papa Tongarewa collection.”
Tabea Salewski (Venue 12, sharing with Mark Lewington — Kaipara Flats) blends art, science, and everyday life. “My main focus in life is raising and homeschooling my two children. In my spare time I’m keen to get creative and make something — draw, knit, or sew.”
Recently, pottery has become her focus: “Using a natural material that comes from the earth and turning it into something functional excites me. Clay offers endless possibilities. I enjoy wheel throwing to create clean forms with visible marks of their handmade origin.” Her scientific eye is never far away: “I have a PhD in marine science and a deep appreciation for the beauty of our world. I like carving nature-inspired designs into my pieces.”
For Tabea, utility is part of the poetry: “I like the idea that the pieces created are being used, felt and handled over and over again. What could be better than starting your morning tea or coffee ritual drinking from a lovingly crafted handmade mug?”
Joy Bell — One of a Kind
It’s hard to categorise Joy Bell (Venue 13, Kaipara Flats), whose artistic path winds from large-scale mosaic commissions to felt, clay, and recycled sculpture. She laughs as she recalls her open studio event earlier this year: “Over Easter I opened my studio and held an exhibition, Wild Things. It was a wonderful four-day experience which inspired me to join Mahurangi Artist Network and participate in the art trail.”
After decades of public mosaic work, Joy decided it was time to make art for herself: “After decades of being a large-scale public art mosaic artist, I finally stopped at 65. It was very physical work, and I was running out of years to do my own art.”
Now she works across many media — “I sculpt clay, cast coloured concrete, do rug hooking, felting, and faux or real taxidermy” — often using materials gathered close to home. “I am passionate about recycling; there is a certain pleasure in turning everyday materials into art. I use local clay, my own sheep’s wool, neighbours’ alpaca fleece, skins, skulls and found objects. It’s free, organic and abundant and so satisfying to work with.”
Her Kaipara Flats studio is part of the experience. “I hope people take away with them the whole experience — more than just the art but art reflected in how you live — the studio, old church, small gallery, gardens and sculptures.”
Painting, Light and the Poetry of Place
From expressive oils to shimmering resin, painting remains a cornerstone of the Trail, and several new artists bring their own fresh interpretations.
Margaret Needham (Venue 23, Snells Beach) rejoins the Trail after time away, glad to reconnect with a creative community. “I had just left my Kaipara Flats lifestyle property and moved to Snells Beach when I was invited to join the first Mahurangi Artists Trail. It was a thrill to have people come to visit and view my paintings. Now that I’ve begun painting again after several years’ break, I’m pleased to join an art community once again.”
Her work balances freedom and discovery: “I experiment and play with both oils and acrylic mediums. Colour and texture mean I end up with a variety of styles which often surprise me too.” Her subjects range widely — “from NZ bush and sea scenes to abstract and cultural themes” — often inspired by travel: “Several visits to Italy have inspired a number of paintings.”
For Christina Lynn McGrath (Venue 31, Point Wells Hall), painting is about energy and emotion: “My work is an expression of energy and emotion — inspired by the rhythm of the ocean, the freedom of movement, and the quiet strength of nature.”
She works in fluid acrylics and resin: “They’re alive, unpredictable, and beautifully reflective — much like the sea itself. I often layer metallic pigments and translucent tones to create a sense of movement and light, as if the artwork breathes with the tides.”
Connection is at the heart of her practice: “I hope people leave feeling more connected — to nature, to presence, and to something within themselves. My art is as much about feeling as it is about seeing.”
Kellie Edwards (Venue 31, Point Wells Hall) shares that space and adds her own expressive style in oil, pastel and charcoal. “I favour oil paint and love drawing with pastels and charcoal. These mediums feel ‘meaty’ but can be manipulated to give stunning translucency and beautiful colour by layering rather than mixing.”
Her theme is light — both physical and spiritual: “Central to my work is the understanding that light — both physical and spiritual — illuminates our common human experience.” Kellie’s art often connects deeply with others. She recalls one memorable commission: “A phone call out of the blue from a terminally ill woman who had admired some of my ‘women’ series work. She asked if I could portray her dancing with Jesus. Working with her was a humbling and powerful experience.”
Dil Shroff (Venue 31, Point Wells Hall) adds brightness and accessibility through her fluid art and watercolour practice. “I like working with watercolours the most,” she says. “Fluid Art with Acrylic Pour paintings.” Her message to visitors is refreshingly inclusive: “Art is creative — anyone can do it. I’m looking forward to meeting other artists and art enthusiasts and hoping to inspire people to do some art.”
Janette Cervin (Venue 7, Thompson Road, Warkworth), though already known for opening her studio to visitors, joins the Trail for the first time. “We see this as an opportunity to exhibit our works and make them available to the public. This comes from feedback groups who have visited our property and studio in the past supporting us to have ‘open studio days’.”
Her current works build on her master’s thesis in contemporary flower painting: “My works follow a distinct flora and fauna narrative — mixed media, predominantly hand painted with application of resin layers to create depth and a 3D perspective.” She adds, “Native and introduced species of flowers and birds are prevalent in our garden and in our art.”
A Trail of Stories, Materials and Invitation
Across these new studios — from the coastal calm of Point Wells and Snells Beach and the rustic beauty of Kaipara Flats — a shared thread runs through: courage, connection and curiosity.
These new artists open their spaces not just to show art, but to share the process of making and the stories that shape it. Clay meets light, texture meets pigment, nature meets imagination.
When the Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail 2026 opens its doors from 30 January to 8 February, each of these newcomers will be ready to welcome visitors — some shyly, some boldly, all with open hearts. Bring curiosity, take your time, and enjoy discovering the fresh creative energy blooming across Mahurangi.
Look out for the online Trail Map in December and free printed copies in January at local cafés and galleries — your passport to meeting the newest members of the Mahurangi Artist Network.
LOOK OUT FOR THESE NEW ARTISTS EXHIBITING IN MAST2026
Frank Watson - Cast Bronze Artist @ Venue 1, Puhoi
Nick Waterson - Potter @ Venue 2, Mahurangi West
Janette Cervin - Flora & Fauna Painter & Mixed Media Artist @ Venue 7, Warkworth
Mike Reeves - Potter & Ceramic Artist @ Venue 11, Trail Central, Warkworth Town Hall
Tabea Salewski - Ceramics, Mixed Media & Drawing @ Venue 12, Kaipara Flats
Joy Bell - Mosaic, Sculpture & Textile Artist @ Venue 13, Kaipara Flats
Rosie Leat - Mixed Media Artist @ Venue 14, Warkworth
Cecilia Davison - Ceramic Balloon Artist @ Venue 14, Warkworth
LeeAnn Edwards - Ceramic Artist @ Venue 14, Warkworth
Tania Casey - Painter, Mixed Media & Collage Artist @ Venue 14, Warkworth
Daniela Rubi - Wood, Flax & Mixed Media Artist @ Venue 19, Sandspit
David Sullivan - Ceramic Artist @ Venue 21, Snells Beach
Margaret Needham - Mixed Media, Abstract & Representational Painter @ Venue 23, Snells Beach
Juliana Austen - Ceramic Artist @ Venue 25, Scotts Landing
Liz Sharek - Ceramic Artist @ Venue 26, Matakana
Tony White - Abstract Painter & Sculptor @ Venue 27, Matakana
Christina McGrath - Mixed Media Artist @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Christopher Dews - Plein Air Oil Painter @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Dil Shroff - Fluid Art & Acrylic Pour Painter @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Kellie Edwards - Oil Painter & Pastel Artist @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Roger Williams - Watercolour Sketching @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Lou Dews - Jeweller @ Venue 31, Point Wells Hall
Derek Ventling - Mixed Media Artist @ Venue 32, Leigh
Sally Greer - Painter & Scribbler @ Venue 33, Leigh
Rhana Panhuis - Multi-Disciplinary Artist @ Venue 33, Leigh
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