Margaret Ledgerton
Margaret was born in Liverpool, England, and came to New Zealand in her 20s. Since then she has lived mostly in Wellington and for shorter periods in Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, and Melbourne, working as a teacher, union researcher, and a public servant.
Painting and drawing have been her life-long interests, with increasing time devoted to them in recent years. She has worked with pencils, oil pastels, acrylics and oils to create still lifes, portraits and landscapes. Oils are the medium she currently enjoys most, and landscapes around the Wellington region, including coastal areas, provide the inspiration for most of her recent paintings.
Jane Duncan
Jane lives mostly in the Wairarapa where she says the light is so magical and, as an artist, is the perfect place as inspiration is all around her. She began painting properly in 2013 while recovering from a serious illness, first in acrylics but now mostly oils.
Under the tutelage of Jane Sinclair, she discovered ‘dark and light.’ ‘I was challenged to paint in the style of the Scottish Colourists, with their intense colours, looser brush strokes and subtle modulation of light and shade, which has led me to where I am today’ she says.
Completely absorbed in her art, Jane paints views through rooms, landscapes based on her father’s Scottish homeland, or still lifes with deep intense colours. ‘Painting takes me out of myself,’ she says. ‘It is my joy, great love, and addiction. The journey of an artist is a huge adventure. Come on it with me.’
Mark Peck
Mark has spent most of his adult life in public service: trade unions, politics, the Smokefree Coalition, and latterly as part owner of Little Peckish Café in central Wellington.
He is new to art. ‘My interest in painting developed when a friend introduced me to fine art,’ he says, ‘and after experimenting with a couple of cast-off canvasses in my garage, I signed up for lessons.’
Under the tutelage of Stephanie Woodman, Mark is discovering the nuances of technique, colour and form. He is fascinated with the effects of dappled light.
‘I am grateful to those who have encouraged my early development, including Margaret and Jane who have been hugely supportive. I am looking to grow further on this journey of discovery. For now, I’ll just keep painting.’