​Studio by the Sea
About
Bio
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Hello, I’m Steven, an artist based in Northland, New Zealand.
Creativity has been a constant presence in my life from an early age, and I have recently committed to pursuing this passion full time. My background is multidisciplinary, with over a decade of experience in general engineering, followed by professional work in interior and exterior residential painting. Alongside this, I have maintained a workshop and art studio for many years—spaces where technical skill and creative exploration naturally come together.
I studied art at college and later at Auckland University, further shaping both my technical foundation and creative direction. Today, I work from my dedicated studio and workshop, where I design and build each artwork from start to finish using specialist tools, machinery, and high-quality materials.
I have a deep connection to the natural environment of New Zealand, particularly where forests meet the rugged coastline. I have spent years exploring remote landscapes—fishing, freediving, tramping, camping, walking beaches, and collecting seashells and sea glass. Nature, wildlife, gardening, and the outdoors continue to influence both my life and my creative practice.
I often say:
“Where the beautiful forests meet the rugged ocean — there you will find me.”
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Artist's Statement
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My work explores the relationship between nature, material, and form through three-dimensional sculptural art. I am drawn to tactile, organic materials and dimensional composition, creating artworks that exist between natural beauty and constructed design.
Seashells have become a central medium in my practice. What began as years of experimentation evolved into a focused artistic language, and I now work primarily with tropical seashells as a sculptural art form. Each shell is ethically sourced from around the world and selected individually for its form, colour, texture, and character.
Every artwork is a handcrafted, original 3D seashell composition. From constructing the board and frame, to painting, finishing, placement, and mounting, each stage is carefully designed and executed in my workshop and studio. I use professional-grade, waterproof, clear-setting adhesives and high-quality materials to ensure longevity, structural integrity, and archival quality.
The process is slow, intentional, and precise. Balance, scale, texture, tone, and form guide each composition, resulting in sculptural shellscapes that celebrate natural variation and organic harmony. No two works are ever the same — each piece is a one-of-a-kind artwork, created with care, intention, and respect for the materials and the environment they come from.
Each artwork and commission is made exclusively for its collector, carrying both the natural story of the shells and the hand-built craftsmanship of the studio process.
