April 06, 2025
Here is my new painting "Fisherman's Gone Fishing at Lake Onslow, Central Otago, New Zealand", painted with acrylic on cedar framed board.
900 x 700mm and completed in 2025.
Lake Onslow is a vast reservoir nestled in the rolling tussock-covered hills of Otago, sitting 700 meters above sea level near Roxburgh in Central Otago. Known for its exposure to the elements, the lake's high altitude and open landscape make it particularly harsh and bleak during adverse weather conditions.
The fishing at Lake Onlsow is described as quite promising, although I've heard of many hours spent fishing with not much to show for the effort. I was fortunate to arrive on a calm afternoon, and although I did not have a chance to fish, did see evidence of the fish rising around the shoreline as the light fell.
As the sun fell it became more still, eventuating in one of those moments when the last golden rays bake you. I wanted to capture this warmth and stillness at this fisherman's hut, with the unique Central Otago rolling hills as a backdrop and the shadow play within the tussocks.
The isolated little huts around Lake Onslow are elevated, offering spectacular views across Lake Onlsow and the surrounding rolling hills, and each is accompanied by a very unique long drop.
View here: https://www.bellamygallery.co.nz/collections/new-paintings/products/fishermans-gone-fishing-at-lake-onslow







July 25, 2026
At a very early stage is Birdcage Hut, with the first heavy base layers laid down and the initial details emerging.
Situated towards the head of the Cass River near Lake Tekapo Birdcage Hut is nestled against the Haszard Ridge on the valley floor at just under 1100 metres above sea level.
This hut is a derelict one...
July 19, 2026
After this latest snow dump we feel so lucky to have spent time just before it immersing ourselves in the Molesworth. Access in winter can be a challenge, snow and ice on the passes and we just heard that the rivers in Rainbow got blown out after the last rain/snow storm I imagine these are impassable now as they get gauged out very quickly.
It's very cool to see others just as passionate about the area as us - when we turned up it made me laugh to see another ute had skis in the back (although they had biked in) nothing was going to stop them going in! It would have been a very long...
July 05, 2026
I'm getting into the finer detail now on the Poolburn Dam painting. The morning mist rising off the cool water as the sun warmed it was a challenge. It adds a great mood and is only visible for such a short time early in the morning so I really wanted to include this...