Roots And Rocks
For artist Rachel Moore, painting has always been a deeply personal escape - one that now finds a home in Mangawhai’s flourishing creative community.
What started as a simple desire for ‘me time’ while raising two young sons has since evolved into a distinct artistic career. Rachel first picked up acrylics in 2006, taking night classes at Mairangi Bay Arts Centre, however, 2019 marked a turning point in her artistic journey. Teaching herself watercolour techniques, she discovered a medium that felt both unpredictable and deeply expressive.
Over the past five years, she has refined her approach, developing a signature style that captures the beauty of the natural world through organic lines and shapes. Explored through the elegance of rock formations, the strength of a tree, and the enduring allure of landscapes, her compositions are not mere representations but invitations - portals to memory, emotion, and place.
With an eye for subtlety, she tends to avoid bold primaries, instead allowing watercolour pigments to blend and bleed, forming intricate washes that mirror the mineral-like textures of her subject matter. A mix of painting and hand drawn details, her works evolve organically, shaped as much by her own hand as by the unpredictable nature of watercolour itself.
Not limited to just landscapes, Rachel also delights in still-life compositions of everyday objects such as vases and retro teapots, elevated through her careful eye for design.
One that has been widely recognised, earning finalist placements and awards along her artistic journey, including most recently a merit award at the 2024 Kaipara Art Awards.
While Rachel’s home studio remains on Auckland’s North Shore, Mangawhai has always been close to her heart. After years of holidaying at the Mangawhai Heads camping ground with her young family, she and her husband took the leap three years ago, purchasing a holiday home in the area with plans to make it their permanent base in the near future.
The rugged beauty of Mangawhai - the cliffs, the beaches, the natural landscapes - provides a constant source of inspiration. Whether exploring the shoreline with her furry companion, Captain, photographing the trees, or sketching upon return to her cottage, the region fuels her creativity in a way few places can.
More than just a backdrop for her work, Mangawhai has embraced Rachel and her art. The Mangawhai Artists Gallery has provided both a platform and a community, helping her push past her initial fears of showcasing her work. Some of her most cherished moments now come from meeting collectors of her work in the gallery.
Rachel’s journey is one of evolution, connection, and artistic discovery. And as she prepares for the next chapter, her work will no doubt continue to capture the quiet strength and raw beauty of the landscapes that inspire her.
www.RachelMooreArt.com | www.instagram.com/RachelMooreArtist