Struan Macdonald

Banks Peninsula artist | Painting

Struan is currently based in Little River on Banks Peninsula where he divides his time between painting and counselling. Painting has been a lifelong love and he has been a recreational painter for many years. He mainly works in oils and has developed his technique using this medium.  

​His work typically portrays remote wilderness areas of Southern New Zealand and he is especially interested in portraying the New Zealand native bush.

​For Struan, painting is a way to combine creativity with an interest in the outdoors and in hiking. Hiking trips inevitably become photographic journeys and a means to gather source material.

His style of painting continues to evolve and recent years have seen a shift away from landscapes to focus more on wilderness. This interest in wilderness reflects a fascination with the natural world, where human modification is less apparent.

The paintings are intended not only to communicate a sense of awe for the natural environment, but also to stimulate gratitude, reminding us that nature is precious and requires our care to restore and protect the natural environment.