Rosamund Lowrey
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Rosamund Lowrey is a painter originally from London, UK, now living and working in Auckland, New Zealand. Following in her father’s footsteps, she has been painting and creating from a young age. She studied Textiles and Teaching at Birmingham University, where she earned an Honours Degree in Art & Design. After a long career teaching Art and Design to high school girls in Auckland, she now works full-time as an artist.
Her work, primarily still life with a twist, reflects her interest in historic places, found objects, and cultural histories. Many of her pieces offer social commentary on New Zealand’s colonial past, often referencing native wildlife, particularly endemic, endangered, or extinct bird species.
Throughout her career, Rosamund has worked in both London and New Zealand, illustrating greeting cards, designing and producing porcelain children’s nightlights, making pottery, and creating porcelain jewellery. Her work is held in the Brighton Museum in England, and she has exhibited in the UK, USA, and around New Zealand. She has participated in major Auckland art and craft fairs, street art events, and numerous exhibitions.
More recently, she has expanded into creating her own printed cards and art prints, digitally enhancing and reimagining elements from her original paintings. Her work is held in several New Zealand galleries, and she recently held a solo exhibition in Auckland.
https://www.roslowreyart.com
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
I think I was an artist from the moment I held my first pencil; there was never really anything else I wanted to do. Whenever I had the chance, I was drawing or painting, often alongside my father. As a child, my mum would often say, “Please clear the table,” because it was always covered in my latest artwork before we could sit down for dinner.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My recent work is strongly focused on native New Zealand birds, including the Pīwakawaka (fantail), the Ruru (native owl), and especially the long-extinct Huia. The Huia was deeply revered by Māori, with its striking black and white feathers often worn by people of high status. Sadly, it was driven to extinction due to a combination of factors: widespread habitat loss from land clearing by settlers, hunting, and the introduction of predators.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
I began as a watercolourist, using the medium in my fabric designs and illustration work. Over time, I’ve also grown to love working with oils. Without any formal training in either medium, I’ve developed my own techniques through experimentation and hands-on practice. These days, the most time-consuming, and often most important, part of my process is developing ideas and exploring different compositions well before I pick up a brush.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
I use my art to express my thoughts and experiences in a creative and uplifting way, and to share my enjoyment of painting with others. On a deeper level, I aim to explore themes of conservation and history through visual storytelling, particularly in my artworks featuring the Huia, which reflect both the cultural reverence once held for the bird and the sorrow of its extinction.
Share a mantra or favourite quote that keeps you going.
I don’t need a mantra to keep going, I simply can’t stop creating. But I did come across a quote that resonates with me: "I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious." – Andrew Wyeth
It captures the way ideas are always forming in my mind, even when I’m not actively working.
