Kaiapoi Art

Expo 2025

Save the dates!

11-13 July 2025

The annual Corcoran French Kaiapoi Art Expo is Waimakariri district’s largest visual art show and attracts large crowds every year.

2025 GUEST ARTIST

Gwyn Hughes

The Waimakariri Arts Trust is delighted to welcome Gwyn Hughes as the Guest Artist for the 2025 Kaiapoi Art Expo. 

  • Gwyn is an artist specialising in portrait and landscapes, commission pieces, originals and giclee prints. He paints predominately in oils, and occasionally in acrylic and gouache.

    Gwyn has been painting professionally since the early eighties when he completed art college.

    He began his career as a freelance illustrator whilst still at college, and as an adult student he completed his 3 year National Diploma in 2 years. In the past he has worked on a wide variety of subjects and media, but now focuses predominately on landscapes and portraiture. He works on both canvas and panel.

    Gwyn was initially represented by Gary Mills of Allied Artists, Regent Street London 1983-1995 and was then represented by Maggee Barge of Pink Barge, London 1995- 2002 Maggee was reputed to own one of the top London illustrator agencies, and had only 12 illustrators on her books, including top American illustrator/artists -Bernie Fuches and World Renowned Illustrator /Fine Artist – Robert Heindel, who was famous for his ballet paintings.

    Gwyn’s work has been greatly influenced by American illustrators, this in turn has led to numerous radio and television interviews over his career. Through research in oil techniques, materials and recipes he has been active in lecturing and holding demonstrations to various art societies and groups.

    His extensive research has led him to experiment with producing his own varnishes with the use of damar crystals, and his techniques involve layering glazes, often up to 20 x to achieve the desired effect. He uses Italian oil paints, and predominately uses museum quality, stretched canvases, linen canvases and makes his own gessoed panels.

    Gwyn moved from Wales to New Zealand, residing in the South Island, and is establishing himself here, in both portrait and landscapes art. Since he has been living in New Zealand, he has produced a range of South Island landscapes which reflect his love of the spectacular New Zealand scenery. He has created stunning portraits, each telling a unique story of the sitters character and spirituality. He has a desire to create art which has the ability to draw both himself and others in to a scene and a moment in time, which may evoke a strong sensation of ‘wanting to be there’.

Waimakariri Arts Trust

The Waimakariri Arts Trust is a charitable Trust (CC47138) and manages the Kaiapoi Art Expo.

The Kaiapoi Art Expo is an exhibition of art by Waimakariri artists. With over 100 artists entering, a mixture of painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and textile art will be available for purchase over the two days of the event.

Held in July in the upstairs lounge of the Kaiapoi Club from 10am - 5pm, the Expo promises a great array of stunning art for the public to enjoy for just a gold coin entry fee.

As part of the expo there are also "Have a Go" sessions on Saturday from 10am - 3pm. Here a selection of artists and craftspeople demonstrate their art or craft and give visitors the opportunity to have a go themselves.

Local businesses and art lovers provide sponsorship and receive an invitation to the Sponsors Preview.

A limited number of tickets to the Corcoran French Kaiapoi Art Expo Opening on Friday 11th July will be available to purchase from Humanatix.

Artworks purchased during the weekend and at the opening night are collected at 5pm on Sunday. Payment can be made by eftpos, credit card or cash.