About the artist 

Hi I'm Elise Gemmell, an artist and photographer based in rural New Zealand. 

I brought my first camera in high school and loved taking it with me on every adventure.  

Capturing moments that can never be relived.  

My camera came on a lot of hikes, hunting trips and all sorts of adventures where I enjoyed capturing wild New Zealand and creating timeless pieces.  

Living rurally means that I always have something to capture, whether it’s the bull in the paddock or the mountains at my door step.   

My favorite subject to capture is live stock (especially cattle) and New Zealand wild animals. Capturing the personality and raw emotion through the lens and making it into a piece that will be treasured is truly special.  

Working with cattle day to day, I've come to see that each one has its own character and personality. That’s something I really enjoy bringing through my artwork – not just how they physically look but the character that makes each animal unique. 

I started painting when I wasn’t able to work due to health, After some encouragement from mum I started lessons. This soon became a huge passion of mine and I haven't stopped since.  

I find such an accomplishment and sense of achievement whilst I paint, creating something that captures true emotion, connects to people and tells a story.  

The eyes are often the focal point of my paintings, bringing a sense of life and emotion into every piece.  

I paint a lot of my own photos, this means I am able to combine my passions together and create detailed realistic pieces that are both striking and personal.