Featured Artist – Sheree Foster

Artwork by Sheree Foster

Allow me to introduce, for those who might not already know her – the very talented Sheree Foster!!

Sheree has always loved art, and for as long as she can remember has always been involved with some form of art. In her beginning years, art school was only presented as drawing and painting, which she didn’t feel a connection with – but art these days is a much larger ‘genre’ and so much more accessible, that she finally found a way to express her creativity through art.

Her creative journey started in the Floral, Landscaping, Weaving and Photography arenas. She also spent nearly 10 years as a consultant, which allowed her to stretch her creative flair, resulting in many very happy house building clients and stunning homes.

Getting started in her adventure she supposes it was at a crossroads in life. With lockdowns and what to do next and the overwhelming realization of the waste that is around us, especially after doing several weddings, she started using her creativity to repurpose floral pieces into all sorts of Art Pieces – from wreaths to busts of heads in flowers with a vintage flair.

She sees herself as a “life taught” person, but continually attend workshops in Arts. These are mainly for relaxation, but she also enjoys always learning new things. The items she is currently creating has been a process over the past two years. Learning how to treat the materials, make mistakes, and learning to produce beautiful art pieces. She has also started developing a new range of her Limited-Edition Botanical Prints.

Sheree was awarded first place in the 2022 Lake House Art Centre Awards. With growing confidence, she has had her work selected from New Zealand wide entries to exhibit in other Art Centers and Galleries.

This journey is but new for her, and she is still learning as she goes, telling herself to keep going and riding the ups and downs, trying to make sales and do the marketing whilst not draining herself creatively.

She strives for perfection and advises other artist to make the time to take time out and breathe. To surround yourself with positive and passionate, creative people and to associate yourself with Art Centers that support you and to give back when you can, recommending local community art groups as a way to do that.

Sheree specializes in two different genres of Art, loving them both equally. She would spend months on one, and then switch to the other – if a sudden inspiration happens, she goes with the flow.

The message she hopes to portray through her art is to show respect to the environment. Through her reuse of items and sourcing from mother nature and her wonders she hopes to make the items she gathers shine, through a touch of her creative thoughts.

She enjoys producing a “Kiwiana” style in some of her work along with a modern contemporary style suited to homes and commercial situations.

Her first solo-exhibition will be opening in the Franklin Arts Centre on the 26th of October and will be open for public viewing from 27 October – 16 November.

It is titled “A journey with She” and is about a journey, broken into three stories – dealing with Human Emotions – Rebirth – Light and Colour.

Some of the emotions are hers personally, but she hopes the viewers will recognize their own emotions and know that they aren’t alone in their thoughts. Her intention is for every visitor to go on their own personal journey through her art.

At Waitakere Arts we love seeing our members succeed in their journey through life and find ways to express their creativity in meaningful ways. Sheree is passionate and it will be well worth your while to go and support her at her exhibition!

Exhibition entry terms and conditions

  • All entry forms must be FULLY completed, including pricing. Incomplete entry forms and late entries will not be accepted.

  • Please note, running a member’s exhibition is reliant on volunteer help.  Please let us know if and when you will be able to volunteer in any of the below capacities:

    - Helping out on Bring In Day (receiving artworks)
    - Helping at the Help Desk during the Art Exhibition/Market
    - Helping at Pack down
    - Delivering leaflets/posters to libraries/community centres etc
    - Putting up signage

  • Credit Card payments will incur an extra 2.5% charge.

  • All artworks must be for sale and a 25% (inc GST) commission applies on sales. This will be deducted from the artist’s payment at the end of the exhibition.

  • Payments may take up to 14 working days (from 18 May 2026) to process and will be direct credited to your account.

  • Personal tax liability is the responsibility of the artist.

  • Insurance of artwork is the responsibility of the artist.  Although Waitākere Arts will take all care, we will take no responsibility for lost or damaged work.

  • Work must NOT have been entered in any previous Exhibitions, must have been completed within the last 12 months and not part of any tutored workshop or class. It must be completely original.

  • The Committee reserves the right to refuse an entry if it does not comply with the Terms and Conditions or is deemed inappropriate or is poorly presented.

  • Any changes to your details must be made on or before Bring In Day. No changes can be made after this date.

  • All artwork must be dry. No wet paint.

  • Entries must be ready for hanging on hooks, with D – Rings, cord attached 1/3 down from the top of the artwork. There will be a charge for purchase of D Rings or cord on the day of $10.

  • Each entry must be identified with a swing tag attached to the hanging string, with artist info – (Artist Name, Title of work, Medium, Category, Price).  

  • Work over 3kg cannot be wall mounted. (Please consult with Waitakere Arts if over 3kg).

  • Note – our exhibition will be on black panels.

NOTE: Failure to collect work will result in a $10 per day fee to cover moving and storage of the artwork, useless it’s an emergency and prior arrangements have been made with the Office Manager. Artwork will become the property of Waitākere Arts Council and be sold or donated to charity if not collected by 1st July 2026.  

Members exhibition entry terms and conditions

  • All entry forms must be FULLY completed, including pricing. Incomplete entry forms and late entries will not be accepted.

  • Please note, running a member’s exhibition is reliant on volunteer help.  Please let us know if and when you will be able to volunteer in any of the below capacities:

    - Helping out on Bring In Day (receiving artworks)
    - Helping at the Help Desk during the Art Exhibition/Market
    - Helping at Pack down
    - Delivering leaflets/posters to libraries/community centres etc
    - Putting up signage

  • Credit Card payments will incur an extra 2.5% charge.

  • All artworks must be for sale and a 25% (inc GST) commission applies on sales. This will be deducted from the artist’s payment at the end of the exhibition.

  • Payments may take up to 14 working days (from 18 May 2026) to process and will be direct credited to your account.

  • Personal tax liability is the responsibility of the artist.

  • Insurance of artwork is the responsibility of the artist.  Although Waitākere Arts will take all care, we will take no responsibility for lost or damaged work.

  • Work must NOT have been entered in any previous Exhibitions, must have been completed within the last 12 months and not part of any tutored workshop or class. It must be completely original.

  • The Committee reserves the right to refuse an entry if it does not comply with the Terms and Conditions or is deemed inappropriate or is poorly presented.

  • Any changes to your details must be made on or before Bring In Day. No changes can be made after this date.

  • All artwork must be dry. No wet paint.

  • Entries must be ready for hanging on hooks, with D – Rings, cord attached 1/3 down from the top of the artwork. There will be a charge for purchase of D Rings or cord on the day of $10.

  • Each entry must be identified with a swing tag attached to the hanging string, with artist info – (Artist Name, Title of work, Medium, Category, Price).  

  • Work over 3kg cannot be wall mounted. (Please consult with Waitakere Arts if over 3kg).

  • Note – our exhibition will be on black panels.

NOTE: Failure to collect work will result in a $10 per day fee to cover moving and storage of the artwork, useless it’s an emergency and prior arrangements have been made with the Office Manager. Artwork will become the property of Waitākere Arts Council and be sold or donated to charity if not collected by 1st July 2026.  

Exhibition entry terms and conditions

  • No Digital Artworks or Couriered Works accepted. Payment must be received for entry to be accepted.

  • No photography section for Adults, only for Youth (13-18 Years Old) 

  • All works will automatically enter the “Open section/competition”. 

  • Works may be entered into only one themed awards category.

    - LOOKING WEST: “Capturing the impressions and spirit of West Auckland”

    - OUR PEOPLE OUR PLACE: “Embracing the changing face of the people within West Auckland” (must contain a figurative element)

    - INSPIRATIONAL AOTEAROA: Finding that unique factor which identifies with AOTEAROA | NEW ZEALAND

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