Box of Birds

Artists Helen Casey and Shawna Chow

Makara's finest meet ZEALANDIA for Box of Birds, an exhibition inspired by the natural world. 

About the Artists

Helen Casey: Helen's complex and intricately detailed graphite drawings, often combined with acrylics, pastels and colour pencils, provoke the viewer to decipher their visual narrative.

Inspired by the natural world around her she has developed a distinctive style influenced by Maori, Aboriginal and her own Celtic visual culture.

She often attempts to stimulate the viewer to ponder life beyond the natural to the transcendent, with birds, fish and whales serving as metaphors in a visual conversation.

After many years working as an illustrator she has realised a long held dream by opening her own art gallery. There on the wild and beautiful coast at Wellington’s Makara Beach she exhibits her work to the public. She is an Elected Artist with the Wellington Academy of Fine Arts having sold numerous works in exhibitions there. Many of these are held in private collections around the world.

Shawna Chow: As an artist, Shawna is deeply interested in creating texture through layering.  She uses strong brush strokes and bold colours and this movement often lends itself to playful themes and subject matter.   Her grandfather was a generous patron of the arts and her greatest influence was the Chinese calligraphy and paintings from his collection.  

Shawna’s diverse style is influenced by her 25 years as an Interior Architectural Designer worldwide.  She has a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and Interior Architectural Design.  

Chinese American with roots from Los Angeles and New York City.  She now calls New Zealand her home and resides in Wellington.

From Manhattan to Makara Beach, Shawna now enjoys the quiet beauty of nature at her doorstep. She is very aware and appreciative of the conservation of native trees, plants and animal life.