“We see this collaboration as a refreshing change that brings something new to the hotel, while still reflecting the beauty and character of our heritage building and its story. It’s also a meaningful way for us to support New Zealand artists and celebrate their work in a visible, guest-facing setting. Each piece tells its own story and together, they add a local voice and personality to the hotel experience for both our local and international guests. Beyond enhancing the space, we hope this partnership encourages more locals to visit, engage with the artwork and feel a renewed connection to the property as a place that welcomes creativity and community.
Artist Bios
Suzanne Herschell is an artist and poet who has exhibited with the Academy since 1973. She has exhibited in national and international group, solo and selected exhibitions. Her works are in corporate and private collections in New Zealand and overseas. She is a Fellow of the Academy, exhibited in the Benson & Hedges, Norsewear and Molly Morpeth art competitions, was awarded the Gordon Harris Award for Innovation in Watercolour 2018 and was a finalist in the Arts Gold Awards 2019.
Bernadette Parsons says of her work, “Watercolour is my passion; it has the ability to showcase my experiences and emotional response to what I see around me, in particular when painting en plein air. Over the years my aim has been not to challenge the medium but to work in a partnership with it to celebrate its spontaneity, transparency and excitement. I have successfully exhibited overseas and throughout New Zealand; a positive sign that watercolour has retained a strong place in today’s art world from our early NZ topographical painters to now, and something that, through my art, I am trying to encourage.”
Caroline Kelly received First Place in the Edinburgh Premier Art Award in Dunedin with ‘Resonate’, and was a finalist in the Portrait Society of Atlanta competition in 2023. In 2024 she was selected for The International Prize Leonardo Di Vinci, Milan, the WAA Women Art Award at the international Woman’s Essence Show 2024 in Barcelona, and the premier International Prize “Phoenix of the Arts”, Venice.
Waikanae artist George Thompson is renowned for his colourful and energetic paintings of New Zealand people and places. Equally accomplished in watercolour, oils or acrylics and with the ability to paint with skill using various techniques in all of these mediums, he believes in using colour in innovative and bold ways and has developed a unique style of passionate impressionism that is apparent in all his mediums.
Dave Borgioli-Jones describes himself as “a wave artist based in Hamilton, ironically one of this country’s few large cities without a beach.” While his works are created there, the Waikato, Coromandel, Auckland and Taranaki coasts are his popular haunts. “I love the ocean for as many reasons as are there are waves themselves. Each wave has its own personality and my pictures are a portrait of their short-lived expression in nature. I take photos and interpret my favourites with soft pastel.”
Born in Malaysia, Kit Ong started painting and experimenting with different mediums from a young age. He won several art awards at school and his favourite medium soon became watercolour. He enjoys the freedom of expression and the versatility painting with watercolours offers. He migrated to New Zealand in 1988 to further his architecture studies at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2013 he semi-retired from architecture to spend more time painting. Since then, he has combined his love of art and architecture. He captures his subjects of buildings and cityscapes in vivid and atmospheric paintings.
After almost 15 years working as an accountant in the corporate world, Iwen Yong decided to pursue a career in art, as a full-time professional artist based in Greytown in the Wairarapa. His paintings are inspired by the beauty of the New Zealand landscape and the rural lifestyle and evoke a sense of solitude. He works in oils in a ‘painterly realist’ style.
List of Works For Sale – Hilton Lake Taupo
Bernadette Parsons
Glenorchy watercolour 950 x 510 $2300
Beech watercolour 950 x 510 $2300
Last Light Glenorchy watercolour 950 x 750 $3400
Of Trees watercolour 760 x 600 $2100
Simple Joy watercolour 950 x 510 $3400
Caroline Kelly
Bougainvillea, Rome oils $2,000
Dave Borgioli-Jones
Pennon Stripes Orewa Beach pastel 1020 x 670 $3,499
Another One For Spicoli Back Beach, New Plymouth pastel 1020 x 670 $2,999
Strange Dawn Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth pastel 1020 x 670 $2,999
Back Beach #1 Back Beach, New Plymouth pastel 1020 x 670 $1,950
George Thompson
Southern Wairarapa - 910 x 600mm, Acrylics $1,800
Clarence River, Molesworth Station - 1060 x 490mm, Acrylics $2,500
Fishers Track, National Park - 1530 x 1010mm, Acrylics $3,000
Southerly Coming, Herbertville - 1010 x 760mm, Acrylics $1,800
Beech Forest, Fiordland - 760 x 760mm, Acrylics $1,800
Iwen Yong
Hooker River, Mt Cook 540mm x 740mm Oil on canvas $1,600
High Country Merino 540mm x 740mm Oil on canvas $1,600
Tasman Valley 795mm x 795mm Oil on canvas $2,600
High Country crew 640mm x 640mm Oil on canvas $1,600
Mackenzie Country Canterbury 420mm x 820mm Oil on canvas $1,350
Jie Zhou
Wellington Oils $1,100
Sails on Oriental Bay Oils $1,200
Harbourside Scene Oils $1,100
Suzanne Herschell
Dawn Flight $7,000
From Here On $8,500
Guardian $8,500
Southern Landscape $12,000
Transition $3,500
Kit Ong
Twilight on Willis watercolour $1,500
Urban Symphony watercolour $1,000
Heart of the Quay watercolour $1,500
Pastel Haze watercolour $1,000
Wellington Reflections watercolour $800
