Meet Jess, our resident artist
Jess and her husband KM moved to Pakuranga Park Village five years ago, and they couldn’t be happier with their decision. At first, they were hesitant to downsize from their big house in Farm Cove with a large garden and swimming pool, but they both realised it was time to take the next step. Their daughter recommended they consider a retirement village, and after their first visit to Pakuranga Park, they were immediately drawn to it. After several visits to make sure it was the right move, they decided to settle down here.
Pakuranga Park is a well-established village set on 30 acres of parkland, with its own streets, making it feel like a quintessential little town. Jess and her husband live in an open-plan brick-and-tile villa, perfectly positioned to capture the sun. He loves the village because, “I have more free time… and I don’t have to do any lawn mowing,” while she is equally pleased with their decision to move to Pakuranga Park: “It was the right thing to do. We could maintain the lifestyle we loved in the same area while having lots of time and space for my hobbies.”
A visit to Jess and KM’s home immediately reveals her passion—paintings hang from the walls and ceiling, while her dedicated studio overflows with her artwork. Jess has had a love for art since her school days. During high school, she took a keen interest in drawing and painting, even leading her school’s art group. She also studied oriental painting, which has influenced her watercolor works in many ways.
Since moving to New Zealand 34 years ago, Jess has focused primarily on Western-style paintings, including landscapes, animals, portraits, still life, and abstract works. She works with a variety of mediums such as oil, pastel, acrylic, and pencil. Over the past eight years, she has honed her skills under the tutelage of Tony Clark Studio and is an active member of the Howick Art Group. Her paintings are regularly showcased in exhibitions across Auckland. According to an article in The Times, “The detail in her realist paintings is impossible to miss, with some featuring hundreds of delicate brush strokes.”
Jess and KM have two children and three grandchildren who currently live overseas, but they visit once a year. While Jess keeps herself busy with her painting, she also enjoys participating in village activities and special trips around Auckland. One of her favorite recent outings was the village’s trip to Westbrook Winery on Valentine’s Day 2024—not just for the delicious food and beverages but also for the chance to chat with her friends in such a stunning setting.
Jess always takes pictures of the special places she visits, using them as inspiration for her paintings. If you ask her whether she has time for any other hobbies besides painting, she might say there’s little room—but she does have one secret indulgence whenever she gets the chance.
“Shopping,” she says with a big, mischievous smile.
If you’d like to discover what you can achieve with your newfound free time at Pakuranga Park, visit https://www.realliving.co.nz/v...;or call Sylvie anytime at 027 314 5767.
