A Creative City in Motion​

The BACH – Whangārei Art & Craft Makers celebrates the diverse artistic pulse of Northland through its "Creative City in Motion" series, a project supported by the Whangārei District Council Communities Fund. This collection of profiles highlights the unique talents of our local artisans, ranging from wood carvers, maritime historians, and textile artists to creators of sustainable skincare and cold porcelain blooms.

United by a deep respect for nature and a passion for their craft, these makers—including founder Glenda Ferguson—transform local materials like native timber, harakeke, and wool into distinctive works of art. We invite you to explore the stories of creativity, tenacity, and community spirit that define our vibrant gallery.​

Glenda Ferguson - Fabric Artist

Graham Case - Wood Carver

Creating art has been at the heart of Glenda’s life from the very beginning. Growing up in Nelson, she was always making something — drawing, sewing, felting, crafting with whatever materials she could find. That early love of texture naturally led her into the world of textiles.​

Graham Case, founder of Waipipi Designz, is a wood carver based near Whananaki South, Northland. Originally from Christchurch, he moved north 34 years ago and now works from his bush‑surrounded home studio — a place where creativity and nature meet.​

Kelvin Hardie - Woodturner

Born and raised in Whangārei, Kelvin Hardie has spent a lifetime surrounded by the landscapes and materials that inspire his craft. Working from his home workshop in Kamo, he continues a family tradition — his father’s lathe was his first introduction to woodturning, a skill he explored in his younger years and returned to in retirement.​

Jackie creates hand‑knitted woollen hats and booties, and offers naturally coloured sheepskins that celebrate the beauty of her flock. Her lifelong interest in coloured sheep began many years ago when two coloured ewes were born into her otherwise white Romney flock — a moment that sparked a passion that continues today.​

Don Armitage – Maritime Historian & Artist​

Anne Buckthought (Katy) – Cold Porcelain Flower Artist​

Don Armitage (1949) brings a lifetime of adventure, research, and craftsmanship to his work. Born in Auckland to Canadian parents, he went on to study at Auckland University before spending years at sea — sailing around the Pacific, working as a coastal fishing skipper, and fishing for crayfish and pāua in the Chatham Islands. His career later included roles as a fisheries officer, fishing vessel owner, and even a private pilot conducting occasional surveillance flights for the fisheries department.​

Katy has lived her whole life in Whangārei, nurturing her creativity through self‑taught processes and a deep love of nature. Her journey into making flowers began with childhood memories of shaping plasticine and the influence of an inspiring Art/Craft teacher — sparks that grew into a lifelong passion.​

Brian Ferguson – Jewellery Artist​

Carol Peters – Artist​

A walk through Brian Ferguson’s garden reveals his knack for upcycling — from a barley crusher turned waterfall to wagon wheel gates, creativity flows through everything he touches.​

Carol Peters draws her inspiration from the quiet magic of the natural world. Working from her studio on the small avocado and beef block in Maunu where she was born, she translates the beauty of Whangārei’s landscapes into vibrant works across acrylic, oil, pen, and pencil.​

Wendy Naepflin – Harakeke Artist​

Liz Inch – Photographer​

Wendy Naepflin works primarily with harakeke (NZ flax), creating art that is deeply rooted in sustainability and respect for natural materials. She embraces the intrinsic qualities of harakeke, using different preparation methods to achieve a wide range of textures and forms.​

A proud Northland local, Liz Inch has been a photographer for many years, specialising in event and landscape photography. Her greatest passion lies in capturing native birds and the stunning natural environments that define our region. For her, photography is pure delight, and experimenting with different lighting conditions keeps her creativity alive.​

Naoko & Julia – Community Tapestry Artist​

Leslie Cleary – Landscape Artist​

Leslie Cleary is a Whangārei‑based landscape artist who has spent many years capturing the beauty of Waipū and Mangawhai, with much of her work created through commissions. A long‑time Waipū local, she and her husband moved to Onerahi several years ago, where she continues to paint from her home studio and gallery. The dramatic scenery of the Whangārei Heads now offers her fresh inspiration and new challenges.​

One of the most striking features in the gallery is our magnificent tapestry loom — originally created for the ambitious community weaving project Whangārei Our Place, led by the Whangārei Creative Fibre Group. Designed and built by Glenda and Brian Ferguson using seasoned native timber from their rural Whangārei property, the loom has become a centrepiece of creativity and collaboration.​​