A Gisborne-born artist whose abstract works are inspired by decades spent farming in the Gisborne hill country and family exposure to many art forms.

Join us and celebrate Meg’s artwork inspired by decades spent farming in the Gisborne hill country. Free entry!

Where Colour Lives
Meg Gaddum 

22 July –  10 August 2025, Whakaaturanga Gallery
Opening Event – Saturday 27 July 11am to 1.30pm 

A Gisborne-born artist whose abstract works are inspired by decades spent farming in the Gisborne hill country and family exposure to many art forms.

Artist Statement – Meg Gaddum 2025
I paint with oils and compatible mixed media—such as collage, ink, and pencil—because I believe acrylics contribute unnecessarily to plastic waste. As part of my effort to build a sustainable art practice, I seal my work with a natural beeswax product. Recently, I’ve also begun working in encaustic, a 2,000-year-old method using melted beeswax mixed with tree resin. What could be more natural?
My husband, Bob, now frames my paintings with cypress wood harvested from trees we planted on our farm—another step toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.
My work often explores the interface between freedom and control. I’ve come to realise that whether you’re a child or an adult—navigating politics, religion, society, or any life journey, and any environmental challenge—freedom almost always comes with rules. I begin with choosing colour, then geometric shapes, using brush and pencil to explore variations in hue and line. Often, I use a grid to introduce structure and bring order for the viewer. Finally, expressive, handmade brushmarks add balance, energy, spontaneity, and life to the work. I invite viewers to find pleasure, memory, and quiet reflection within my layered marks and shapes.

Artist Bio – Meg Gaddum 2025
Meg Gaddum spent much of her life on isolated farms in the Gisborne hill country, where the beautiful natural surroundings nurtured her love of art. She grew up surrounded by artists in her extended family—visiting, painting, attending galleries with them, and receiving art materials and prints brought back from their overseas travels. “When I was about 10, I was given a box of French pastels—so juicy and densely pigmented they flowed onto my sketches.”
Her aptitude for science led her into a career in agriculture, horticulture and environmental fieldwork, later followed by intensive studies in design leading to a master’s degree in landscape architecture. Throughout these years, she and her husband farmed a sheep and cattle station near Gisborne for over 40 years.
Landscape architecture rekindled her passion for painting and drawing, ultimately leading her to pursue an art career. Largely self-taught through books and online courses, she has also studied with international tutors.
Now based at Ōhiwa Harbour, she works primarily in oils (and recently in encaustic), using sustainable materials wherever possible. Her practice draws on her life’s experiences, and often reflects subtle commentary on climate change, land use, and the tension between freedom and control.
Her work is regularly accepted into regional exhibitions across New Zealand, and she has held several solo shows. She also sells directly from her studio.

About the Morrinsville Gallery  
The Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable Trust proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025 as the heart of community art in the Matamata-Piako District. We are passionate about creating a welcoming and vibrant space for both locals and visitors in Morrinsville and throughout the beautiful Waikato region.

As a non-profit organization, we rely entirely on community support. Our efforts would not be possible without the help of donors, volunteers, and community members like you. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and our story.

Picture Credits: Windows to the World oil on canvas, 90 x 60 cm,  $1600