Whilst living at the Old Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, I loved to explore the remnants of this mysterious place with its dark history, trying to piece together the fragments left behind, with the imaginings of once the largest building in New Zealand. I loved observing the beautiful duality of these vast and empty buildings being swallowed by the ever-growing nature. 

The contrast between the straight, man-made lines nestled within the swirling, organic shapes of the trees and plants is very satisfying to my eye. The lines give me a structure to work with, allowing the swirls and wind-swept bushes to dance on the page. 
Like ghosts these industrial buildings, which were once filled with activity now sit empty and decaying, surrounded by roses, lavender and eucalypts busking in the sun. 
So everyday I’d walk outside with my coffee, my little watercolour set and a pad, sit amongst the gorgeous gardens of the old asylum and create a plein-air sketch a day.