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Tui House in Warkworth will host Art Affair next month, a major fundraiser for Harbour Hospice.
The exhibition will feature the work of 15 artists. Among the 10 newcomers will be Laura Tait, from Puhoi Farmhouse, who creates stunning floral artworks by photographing the flowers she grows in her garden.
Her work is inspired by the floral paintings of Dutch masters, and she’s passionate about showcasing flowers authentically, without digital or AI manipulation. Building each arrangement can take several hours before photography begins.
People often assume Laura is an experienced gardener but, in fact, she only took it up five years ago.
“I started with a couple of flowerbeds, now our entire property is made up of picking gardens,” she says.
She plants new annuals and perennials every spring and is continually conducting research to source seeds, bulbs and tubers for blooms she’s not seen before.
It’s been a steep learning curve and she’s grateful for the support of generous friends and neighbours who’ve shared cuttings, bulbs and advice.
She says meeting Mandy, at Organic Herbs and Seedlings, proved a turning point.
Laura’s career originated in fashion. She worked for Trelise Cooper for 10 years and was inspired to become a photographer after assisting on photo shoots.
She completed a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts, then picked up travel, wedding and fashion photography work.
One shoot in an apple orchard, for a bridal gown designer, was unexpectedly life changing.
“I came home that day and realised how disconnected I was from the land. How long had it been since I picked fruit from a tree? I knew that day that I wanted to live a rural life.”
Not long after, Laura and partner Andy found their home in Puhoi, then covid hit, making it almost impossible to continue her work.
“I needed to find a way to pursue photography at home. That’s when I started thinking about creating my own gardens.”
The first hurdle was convincing Andy to dig up the front lawn, but once he was on board she ordered in truckloads of soil and the project began taking shape.
Today, she describes her garden as her “studio and materials source”. She’s happiest when her hands are in the soil and has even begun opening her garden to the public.
When Harbour Hospice invited Laura to feature in Art Affair, her answer was an immediate “yes”.
“It’s a heart project for me because I’ve witnessed hospice’s exceptional care of family members and because Andy was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2024. It came as a huge shock and it’s been an incredibly tough year. Fortunately, he’s in remission now and we’re incredibly grateful. But a year of constant hospital stays made us far more aware of the importance of specialised services such as hospice. We know hospice plays a vital role in people’s lives at the most difficult time, so the opportunity to help fundraise for them feels special.”
Art Affair will be held at Tui House, 47 Morrison Dr, Warkworth, on March 7 & 8 (10am-4pm). To attend the Friday preview night, email: Emily.thomas@harbourhospice.org.nz for information.
All proceeds contribute directly to providing specialist palliative care for hospice patients and families in Warkworth/Wellsford.
For more info: https://harbourhospice.org.nz/event/art-affair
