About
Based in Christchurch, Donna Howes is an emerging artist capturing Aotearoa’s natural world through a captivating dual lens. A pivotal shift in 2020 saw her leave a corporate career to dedicate herself fully to the canvas. Working exclusively in oils, Donna’s portfolio is defined by a unique stylistic versatility, moving fluidly between high-definition realism and vibrant, indigenous-inspired stylisation.
Her realistic works, grounded in her own photography, showcase a meticulous attention to light and texture—capturing the weathering of a lighthouse or the quiet stillness of a bloom. Conversely, her stylised series offers a bold reimagining of New Zealand’s native wildlife. In these pieces, she weaves intricate koru shapes and rhythmic lines into the subject, creating a visual language that mimics the flow of wind and water.
Whether rendering a landscape or a stylised native bird, Donna’s work is unified by a deep connection to the environment. Her art invites viewers to look closer—not just at the subject, but at the unity and patterns that bind the natural world together.
