Sherrill Bentley

My art journey started many years ago when I was living overseas. I was lucky to meet a local artist who offered me private painting lessons in oils. This was the start of my passion for art and it has been a focal point of my life ever since.

These days I work from a studio in my home in Onehunga, Auckland where I love to create bold, colourful works of art. I’m inspired by vibrant colours, beautiful vistas and native birds. I display my art in group exhibitions around the country and in recent years I have painted several outdoor murals around Auckland.

My current work explores ways of including elements from my Maori culture into my work, such as patterns, spirituality and legends. I am particularly interested in portraying New Zealand’s native birds and telling their story. The Huia bird is fascinating to me because of their beauty and sad demise.