Artist Bio

Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Michelle completed a full-time three-year Diploma in Graphic Design and Photography and then worked as a studio photographer doing advertising and modelling portfolios before becoming freelance and specializing in Landscape and Portrait photography.

Living in the Wilds of Africa, she married and had two sons and started painting professionally, drawing on her surroundings for inspiration.

Over a few years, she had exhibitions at InnerSpace Gallery in Harare, both solo and group. Michelle also participated in three group exhibitions held at Zimbabwe House in London.

There were several sell-out solo exhibitions at venues in Zimbabwe before Michelle emigrated to live in picturesque New Zealand where she has had exhibitions at the Akaroa Gallery in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island, then joined the Waiuku Beach Artists Association and participated in the WAI exhibitions for four years. She has also exhibited at the Selwyn Gallery and at several exhibitions at the Nut Point Gallery at West Melton.

Until the Christchurch Earthquake of 2011, Michelle exhibited paintings at the Merivale Fine Art Gallery in Christchurch.

Michelle is also well known as a portrait artist and does portrait commissions, mainly of children.

She also does freelance photography both professionally and as a hobby, and designs scrimshaw knife handles on custom-made knives for local knife makers (she is an associate member of the New Zealand Knife Maker’s Guild) as well as doing miniature portraits in scrimshaw.

After completing a professional Airbrush course, Michele now also does commissions for airbrush Portraits and Paintings.

Michelle taught art at Risingholme Community Centre in Christchurch to Adult Students in various subjects including oils, watercolours, pastels, acrylic, and sketching. Michelle continues to teach students privately at her new studio in Tauranga where she moved in 2023.

Michelle has paintings and scrimshaw in private collections in the United States, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.