Merino Gold

About

The Merino was the first sheep to be introduced in significant quantities to New Zealand. Thousands of Merinos were shipped from Australia to New Zealand from the 1840s until the early 1860s. The breed is known for having the softest, finest wool of any sheep and the best merino wool is celebrated within New Zealand culture at various events. The Merino has become one of New Zealand's national icons (Shrek the Sheep), with its wool exported across the world by local companies like Icebreaker. Over the centuries, the New Zealand merinos have been bred to produce finer and finer wool, resulting in what we see today. The New Zealand Merino had established itself as a unique breed by the early 1880s. Merinos can be seen on farms across New Zealand's stunning southern highland landscapes. 

Artist’s word

What these paintings mean to me, why I do them.. Merino sheep have a special place in my heart, I have fond memories of my first pet Mille; a lamb who I spent many hours feeding and running around with. I still have a lock of Millie's wool in my old scrapbook. My works celebrate the Merino as a large part of Central Otago history, sustaining life and growth in the region for centuries, including the time of the Otago gold rush which started in 1861. I explore these themes in my Merino Gold collection where I incorporate gold, historic locations and objects into my works.  

Exhibitions

My Merino works have been exhibited overseas. I'm currently working towards a local exhibition for this collection. Some of the works below have been sold and may be removed from this page as I build my private exhibition series for this collection.