Phillipa Knight
Gisborne

Phillipa's journey as an artist began rather by accident, when she began making jewellery while recovering from a serious illness, four years ago.
Since then however she has become unstoppable; continuing to draw, as she loved to do when she was a child; and also working in soft and oil pastels, watercolour pencils, oils and acrylics. She also crafts jewellery from wire, glass beads, semi-precious gemstones, shells, stained glass and polymer clay.
Phillipa is currently studying towards a diploma at the Learning Connexion. And although this requires a different approach to the kind of learning she undertook for her science degree, the two paths are not as vastly different as they may seem - through her works Phillipa hopes to promote the preservation of our environment, and respect for animals, especially our non-human companions cats and dogs.
Phillipa draws upon and derives inspiration from the work of other artists, such as Janine Whitelaw, Rebecca Gilmore, Christine Friesen and John Agnew as well the natural beauty and culture of places such as New Zealand, the Amazon and the mammals, birds, insects and flowers that inhabit and give colour and diversity to these places.
Phillipa currently sells her jewellery and artworks through a number of outlets in Gisborne, including Bex, the Art Beat Gallery Shop at the Tairawhiti Museum, the Waikanae Holiday Park, and the Riverstone Gift Shop and at the regular art and craft fairs run by Gisborne's Art and Craft Guild.

Phillipa can be contacted at phil.knight@xtra.co.nz