Together: Outward Bound on Canvas

Rose’s connection to the outdoors runs deep. Growing up in rural Waikato, she spent much of her childhood immersed in nature, exploring the land and observing its subtle details with quiet curiosity. Since moving to Wellington five years ago, she has returned to painting with renewed focus, attending workshops and classes to develop her practice. 

In 2024, she began working with oil paint, a medium that suits her careful attention to detail. Alongside oils, she works with pastel and watercolour, drawn to the shifting forms of clouds and water and the ever-changing light that evokes a sense of freedom. 

On course, participants learn to sail and navigate, relying on every member of the crew to work in harmony. The painting reflects this spirit: the coordination within the cutter, the shared challenge of the journey and the steady presence of instructors in the safety boat – guides who offer both support and the freedom to learn safely. 

It captures a familiar moment in the Marlborough Sounds, symbolising the transformative experiences that have shaped countless lives. 

Rose’s connection to Outward Bound is personal. Two of her older sisters were kaiako at Anakiwa, and she spent many school holidays visiting them, inspired by their adventurous spirit and strength. In 2020, just before the Covid lockdown, Rose completed an Outward Bound course herself. For her, the course was less about physical challenge and more about teamwork, reflection and personal growth. 

Some of her most vivid memories are of sailing the cutter with her Shackleton watchmates – navigating through the Sounds at dawn, spotting dolphins in the sunrise, keeping night watch over hot cocoa, rowing and singing together and managing the inevitable challenges of working as a team – from calls of “Reef the sails” to convincing watchmates who would rather sunbathe than pull on ropes.

Years later, while passing through the Marlborough Sounds, she spotted a cutter raising its sails with the launch nearby. Instantly, she was transported back to her own time at Outward Bound and knew she had to capture the moment in paint. 

Created for her debut exhibition, Echoes of the Wild, the painting sits alongside other works inspired by the Marlborough Sounds. For Rose, Together is about collaboration, resilience and growth – the rewards of accomplishing things together. It reminds us that the journey is as important as the destination and that the people alongside us, whether on the water or in life, make all the difference. 

Together is available for purchase by silent auction. Proceeds from the painting are going to Outward Bound in appreciation and to share awareness of the powerful work we do, bringing together nature, adventure and self-development and making those experiences possible for others. 

Auction closes 2pm, 19 September 2025. Visit this link to bid.