Artist Profile
At just 18 years old, Sheree fell in love with the rugged charm of the West Coast and the creativity of its people. As her friends surfed the wild waters, Sheree walked along the shoreline and found her first piece of pounamu. Two decades later, the self-taught carver and confirmed “West Coaster” is so skilled in her craft, that she tutors at Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth. Her work is known for its feminine, fluid aesthetic.
At the age of 18 Sheree decided to drive the length of New Zealand, familiarising herself with parts of the country that were personally unknown. She didn’t realise, but those early days exploring the coastline would decide the direction of her life in jade art for the next 20 years.
Assessment of the raw stone is very important to Sheree. Her carvings evolve from the unique characteristics of each piece of pounamu. Understanding its flaws and strengths dictates the final piece of art that can be created and the steps needed to be get there. Her work is defined by a feminine, fluid aesthetic.
