Fine Feathers in fibre and birdhouses

The “Fine Feathers” exhibition in May-June 2022 showcases the creativity of our Spinning, Weaving and Knitting and Felting Group members: there are many fibre forms to work with!

We’re also enjoying the quirky crafts of Bill Davies, birdhouse maker.

About Bill – from the Art Shed, Napier:

After hitch-hiking around Australia and working in Western Australia with Aboriginal groups, Bill returned to New Zealand and started a family. As he was always interested in horticulture he ended up running a commercial organic vegetable farm in Te Horo. Back injuries put paid to that so he retrained as a potter.

After 20 years potting he started dyeing fabric using plants and pigments found locally. In the background he was making bird-houses and they have taken on a life of their own. He loves searching for odd bits and pieces to decorate them with. Most are donated by people who have bought houses before. His flock is huge now, and his own house has many sparrow apartments on it!

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Oil painters’ monthly challenges

Our group is having a monthly challenge to paint or draw subjects we don’t usually paint.


For February it was a self portrait. We had produced some lovely ones and had a lot of fun showing them to each other. The March subject was a bird and some found that hard but all the same did some great paintings and drawings.

See more of our artworks on our Oil Painting page.