Katie Arnold

Country: NZ
Instagram: @katiearnoldinks
Artist Discipline: Drawing/ Illustration, Writing

Katie Arnold is a relief printmaker and illustrator based in Thames, Aotearoa New Zealand, specialising in linocut. Working in a highly detailed black-and-white style reminiscent of 18th-century wood engravings, her practice is deeply inspired by the landscapes and people of Aotearoa. Katie’s work is intimate and place-based, often reflecting scenes within biking distance of her home.

Now living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Katie’s art practice offers a meaningful and sustainable way to engage creatively with the world. Her goal for the Driving Creek residency is to explore the land, people, and rich history of the area through her sketchbooks and lino prints. With deep personal motivation and a strong connection to place, Katie hopes to produce a body of work that captures the atmosphere of Driving Creek while continuing to grow as an artist in a supportive, accessible environment.

Helena James

Country: NZ
Artist Discipline: Raranga (Maori artwork of weaving)

Helena James (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a master flax weaver based in Whitianga with over 30 years of experience in the art of raranga. Introduced to weaving by her sister, Deborah-Lee Blake, Helena has continued to deepen her practice through both traditional and contemporary techniques. Each of her works is a one-of-a-kind taonga—infused with personal challenge, creative exploration, and deep cultural significance.

Helena thrives in collaborative artistic spaces, finding joy in sharing knowledge with fellow creatives, communities, and younger generations. Her recent shift from private commissions to public exhibition marks an exciting new chapter in her journey, with successful showings at Hauraki House in Coromandel and Hot Waves Café. Known for her originality and commitment to craft, Helena brings both legacy and innovation to the weaving world.

Hannah Strauss

Country: Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal
Website: hannahazarstrauss.com
Instagram: @hannah.azar
Artist Discipline: Drawing/ Illustration, Mixed Media

Hannah Azar Strauss is an artist, writer, and educator from Tiohtià:ke / Mooniyang / Montréal, whose practice spans printmaking, drawing, and experimental book forms. Rooted in slow, collaborative processes and inspired by the act of translation, Hannah’s recent work explores the layered relationships between language, material, and perception.

While new to ceramics, Hannah is drawn to the medium for its sonic and spatial potential. During her upcoming move to Coromandel, she plans to immerse herself in clay at Driving Creek by creating a series of ceramic bells—ranging from delicate hand-built forms to larger wheel-thrown pieces. This body of work will explore the bell as an object of ritual, memory, and sound, inspired by historical mourning bells, amulets, and the role of bells as communal time-markers. Through this project, Hannah seeks to deepen her connection to place and material, and to experiment with the fragile yet resonant nature of ceramic sound.

Maya Stock

Country: UK
Artist Discipline: Pottery/ Ceramics

Maya is a 25-year-old potter from the UK, primarily based in Cornwall, currently exploring Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. She first discovered pottery as a child through play, and that sense of curiosity and joy continues to shape her creative approach today. When not making ceramics, Maya works as a surf instructor—spending her days immersed in the ocean and returning to clay as a grounding balance between water and earth.

Since arriving in New Zealand, she has found inspiration and community through a local ceramics studio in Raglan, where she’s been dedicating herself daily to the craft. Her practice is rooted in experimentation, flow, and the simple joy of making by hand. Through her travels and connection to place, Maya continues to deepen her love for clay and the possibilities it holds.

Brie Rate

Instagram: @eirbeirb
Artist Discipline: Drawing/ Illustration, Multimedia, Other

Brie Rate is an Ōtautahi-born artist whose practice is grounded in careful observation and a deep engagement with materiality. Working across drawing, printmaking, and papermaking, she explores mark-making through both traditional media and experimental assemblages of found, organic, and recycled materials. Brie's work often reflects an interest in contemporary ecologies and the dynamic intersections between natural and urban environments.

A graduate of Elam School of Fine Arts, Brie has been a two-time finalist in the prestigious Parkin Drawing Prize. Her recent exhibition they saw leaves growing—a collaborative show with renowned printmaker Sue Cooke at Homestead Galleries—featured over 30 drawings chronicling green spaces across Tāmaki Makaurau. Through her evolving visual language, Brie continues to investigate the poetic tension between place, material, and environment.