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Finding Purpose in Paint: The Conservation Art of Donna Howes
Russley Events
Last year, Donna began painting every bird featured in the Bird of the Year campaign, a body of work that quickly gained momentum after she painted her first tūī and shifted towards a more fluid, expressive style inspired by New Zealand’s native birdlife. “It just clicked, and people loved it,” she says. “I’m up to bird number 13 now, and I’m really enjoying it.”
What began as creative exploration has now evolved into a formal commitment with Forest & Bird. Donna Howes NZ Art is an official Business Supporter of Forest & Bird, with a portion of every sale from her original paintings and prints donated directly to support native wildlife and wild places.
“The more time I spent with these birds on the canvas, the more I realised I wanted to contribute to their future in the wild,” she says.
Before becoming a full-time artist, Donna spent years in jobs that didn’t bring her fulfilment in the same way creating art does. Following the pandemic and a move from Wellington back to her hometown of Christchurch, she finally chose the path she’d always imagined. “I realised I’d had enough. I didn’t want to keep doing work I wasn’t aligned with,” she says. Her previous roles ranged from welding to corporate positions in public service.
Art had always been a constant in Donna’s life. She taught herself calligraphy, card-making, signwriting and photography, but a career in the arts never felt within reach. Selling their Wellington home and returning to Christchurch shifted that reality, giving her the space, both physically and financially, to set up a studio at home. “Art was always my long-term goal, but moving back to my hometown brought that timeline forward and allowed me to fully commit.”
Now in her 50s, Donna specialises in oil on canvas and is fully immersed in her practice. “Art calms me. I’m quite busy in my head and that all goes away when I’m painting. Time disappears. I can paint for three hours straight and not realise it. I love the small details and taking the time to perfect a piece.”
She provides a physical Certificate of Authenticity with each original work, which includes a QR code linking to a digital COA — an additional layer of authentication available exclusively to the buyer. Framed fine art prints are also available to order.
Donna is excited to share her work at the Russley Village Exhibition next month. Having debuted at the First Steps exhibition at Eastside Gallery in early 2025 and since shown at Down by the Liffey, Fold Gallery Rangiora, and Te Huanui Darfield gallery, this will be her first cash and carry style event. “This will be a learning curve for me. I’m looking forward to meeting other artists and being inspired by their work. I love discovering unique art.”
See Donna's work on Instagram @donna.howes.nz.art. Fine art prints are also on display at Yellow Café in Edgeware.
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