Guest Artist 2026:
Shona Mackenzie
We are super excited to introduce the delightful Shona Mackenzie as guest artist for the 2026 Festival of Pots and Garden Art.
Shona Mackenzie
We are delighted to announce Shona Mackenzie as our guest artist at the 2026 Festival of Pots and Garden Art.
Art and creativity have been a constant presence in Shona Mackenzie’s life since early childhood. Whether as a central focus or a cherished form of escape, creativity has always been a core part of who she is. As the third of four generations of artists, she feels incredibly fortunate to now work as a full-time artist.
Shona studied textile design in Scotland and later pursued education in New Zealand, though she considers herself largely self-taught. She currently works from her open studio in The Historic Village in Tauranga, where she paints, teaches, and immerses herself in a wide range of creative pursuits.
In recent years, Shona’s work has been met with enthusiastic response, including sold-out exhibitions, nationwide teaching requests, and invitations to take part in exhibitions and events. At the end of 2024, she was announced as the winner of the inaugural Gold Stuff Aotearoa Art Award.
Her semi-abstract work is deeply influenced by the beauty of the natural world and her strong ties to both New Zealand and Scotland. A visual collector by nature, Shona is constantly observing and mentally recording fleeting moments in the landscape. Whether it is the breeze through a field or mist clinging to a forest at dawn, these impressions are stored subconsciously and eventually surface in her work.
Shona is a process-driven artist who values creative play and mark-making. She always works in series without a set plan, allowing each piece to evolve naturally. She does not use reference photos, which makes each body of work a journey of discovery. Through this intuitive approach, she aims to evoke memories and emotions in viewers, inviting them to connect with meaningful places and experiences of their own. Central to her work is the belief that we belong to the land, not the other way around. Her themes often explore home, connection to place, memory, and the emotional legacies passed through generations. Like many New Zealanders, her family story spans two countries, and this dual heritage remains a powerful influence in her practice.
We are delighted to announce Shona Mackenzie as our guest artist at the 2026 Festival of Pots and Garden Art.
Art and creativity have been a constant presence in Shona Mackenzie’s life since early childhood. Whether as a central focus or a cherished form of escape, creativity has always been a core part of who she is. As the third of four generations of artists, she feels incredibly fortunate to now work as a full-time artist.
Shona studied textile design in Scotland and later pursued education in New Zealand, though she considers herself largely self-taught. She currently works from her open studio in The Historic Village in Tauranga, where she paints, teaches, and immerses herself in a wide range of creative pursuits.
In recent years, Shona’s work has been met with enthusiastic response, including sold-out exhibitions, nationwide teaching requests, and invitations to take part in exhibitions and events. At the end of 2024, she was announced as the winner of the inaugural Gold Stuff Aotearoa Art Award.
Her semi-abstract work is deeply influenced by the beauty of the natural world and her strong ties to both New Zealand and Scotland. A visual collector by nature, Shona is constantly observing and mentally recording fleeting moments in the landscape. Whether it is the breeze through a field or mist clinging to a forest at dawn, these impressions are stored subconsciously and eventually surface in her work.
Shona is a process-driven artist who values creative play and mark-making. She always works in series without a set plan, allowing each piece to evolve naturally. She does not use reference photos, which makes each body of work a journey of discovery. Through this intuitive approach, she aims to evoke memories and emotions in viewers, inviting them to connect with meaningful places and experiences of their own. Central to her work is the belief that we belong to the land, not the other way around. Her themes often explore home, connection to place, memory, and the emotional legacies passed through generations. Like many New Zealanders, her family story spans two countries, and this dual heritage remains a powerful influence in her practice.