Life's a bach

New works by a late-developing artist throw Rangitoto Island baches in a freshly vivid light, Edward Rooney writes.
After 20 years of banking Donna Massey had a major career change and is now an established full-time artist with her debut solo exhibition opening this week.
Bright colours and crisp images are her hallmarks, deftly applied in oils for striking images of the iconic Rantitoto Island baches.
"I prefer to paint in oils for their depth of colour and fluidity," she says.
Massey already has paintings in private and corporate collections throughout New Zealand and many worldwide, with a recent one heading off to Guernsey in the Channel Islands. She's also won several awards including two at this year's Royal Easter Show Art Awards.
Far from being a passive observer of the landscape however, Massey interacts with some enthusiasm.
"I am very keen on outdoor pursuits and have caught a marlin, dived the Poor Knights, been pig and wild ram hunting on the Chatham Islands, several parachute jumps and white water rafting. It was on one such adventure that I took my first photo of the Rangitoto baches."
It was a serendity that was pre-loaded to occur from her childhood. "I spent a reasonable amount of my childhood on small yachts with my family, exploring the Hauraki Gulf. Like many Aucklanders, the islands and Rangitoto in particular, hold a special place in my heart. I remember staying in one of the baches on Rangitoto for a youth camp and on Motutapu on a school camp. My dad was the caretaker for the naval base on Great Barrier Island for 11 years, another of the islands I am passionate about.
"When my mum mentioned she was going on a historic tour of the baches I readily invited myself along."
Massey was fascinated by all the stories of the island and the people it has accommodated over the years.
"One that stuck with me was 'Aunty Vi's bach', now leased by the Andrews family. I would not normally paint a pink house but the stories and love of the bach shone through. As it happens, the colour of the bach looks great in a painting.
"They have become my first 'series' of paintings and now my first solo exhibition. I have thoroughly enjoyed painting them and learning about the histories of the baches and memories of the people who lived there. I was halfway through painting the series when Marcus Lush featured them on one of his TV episodes of North. I was very excited to see some of the ones I was painting and hear his families stories."
Channel views

Rangitoto Bach Series is at Parnell Gallery from July 14-24, with the opening on Thursday evening 5.30pm-7pm.