Andrea is a mixed-media artist from Orepuki, Southland, Aotearoa. Her work reflects the dramatic coastal landscapes of western Southland and a deeply tactile, layered creative process.

Andrea studied Craft and Design in Dunedin during the 1990s and attended Teachers College. Since 1992, she has worked across 2D and 3D media—including painting, mixed media, and soft sculpture—and has exhibited widely in group shows.

After 20 years of teaching, (including the role of Head of Department), at Aurora College, teaching material and fabric technology to students in Years 7–13, Andrea is now focusing on making her own art, presenting community workshops and continues to nurture young creatives across Murihiku.

Andrea’s work has earned significant accolades:

• Third Prize in the LIT Art Awards (2018, 2023) • First Prize (overall and environmental) at the Provincial Pride Art Awards (2018) • Merit Award in the Cowie Painting Awards (2017) • Most Interesting Use of Medium at Provincial Pride (2016).

Andrea is a mixed-media artist, combining watercolors, acrylics, pastels, inks, and graphite. She further enriches her work using resin, varnish, and fabrics—each piece layered with texture, narrative, and a nod to her environment.

Her artworks draw deeply from the rugged beauty of Orepuki. She emphasizes the importance of drawing—it underpins her practice, whether executed with sticks, photos, graphite, or thread. Particularly striking is her textile work: using a vintage Bernina sewing machine’s darning foot, she layers thread with rhythm, intensity, and an almost musical energy, drawing imagery with stitch as much as paint.

Andrea currently runs an art gallery and studio, The Little Red Caboose overlooking Taewaewae Bay, she regularly runs art workshops across Southland—covering mark-making, mixed media, textile art, and jewelry-making, welcoming participants of all experience levels.

www.andreasextonartist.com

Course outline

I will be teaching three of my popular workshops, my resin finishing technique will be demonstrated to all participants, as each workshop outcome requires this as a finish.

Applying a resin finish to artwork enhances colors and provides a durable, glossy, protective layer. The process requires preparation, precise mixing of a two-part epoxy resin, and careful application and curing in a controlled environment

Birds of Aotearoa

Learn how to paint a bird portrait on a wooden round. I will step you through the basics, background painting techniques, using printing and mark making, and painting a beautiful native bird, (or bird of your choice). It will be the most satisfying painting experience, step by step and a finished product you’ll be proud of. We will use acrylic paint and some inks. Bring your acrylic paints and inks with you, and your favourite brushes, including a fine, pointed, flat and fan brush. These will then be coated with a lovely lush resin layer, that will make your art work pop!

Seascape feathers

You will create a series of beautiful original seascapes, forever entombed in a delicious layer of resin, ready to hang or frame. You will work through the process of mark making/ colour exploration and simple composition skills to develop your own original works, that can hang as singles or a group. Again, bring your favourite water colour paints, acrylics, inks and paint brushes if you have them.

Freedom of mark-making/ collage

This workshop is really about unleashing the playful artist within. We'll have so much fun, looking at a range of creative processes, including exploring a range of mark making tools, and creative practices! I often find adults are very nervous and shy about getting paint to paper. Where do you start? I can teach a range of starting points, easy compositions and unique outcomes. We will create a range of experimental pieces, then create a final work on a wooden block, that we will resin.