Alice Berry is a multidisciplinary artist from Tauranga, now based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Her distinctive style is inspired by her experiences, intuition, and the numerous travels and adventures she has had. Her love of nature can be seen in the organic shapes, themes, and textures in her artwork.

How did you start your career as an artist?

I've painted my whole life, but I started my career as a graphic designer. This led me to illustration for a while. I created a range of prints featuring native birds, and llamas, and somewhere along the journey, I met Elliot (endemicworld founder), and started selling prints through endemicworld. In 2016 I found myself painting a lot and ended up creating a collection of paintings. So, I rented a space and put on my first ever solo exhibition. It was only 2 days but it was super exciting. From there I began selling original artwork through galleries and a few more solo exhibitions followed. And now, here we are! 

What is your background? Did you go to art school? 

(Alice Berry in her home in Tāmaki Makaurau)

As a kid in Tauranga, I did after school art classes. My first group exhibition was when I was about 11 years old and I exhibited an abstract oil painting. I did art in Year 11 but hated how limiting it was, so I started focusing my attention on other subjects. My first year at Otago Uni I was studying to become a Town Planner. I realised that it was absolutely not for me and left at the end of my first year.

I decided to apply to Design School at Otago Polytech, with the intention of becoming a Graphic Designer, about 2 weeks before the course started. I whipped up a (pretty shitty) portfolio, got in some how and headed back to Dunedin. Three years later, I got my Degree and eventually made it to Auckland to start my design career.

I worked full time in design for about 5-6 years, and then decided to start freelancing so I could have more time for illustrating and working on my business designing and selling greeting cards, prints, calendars etc to stores. With the freedom of time, I also began ceramics classes and started painting again

Can you describe your style and how you came to it?

My style is very loose and it shifts, but I still feel like all my work is distinctly me. I use a lot of colour, texture and organic shapes. I suck at painting anything realistic and I don't enjoy it so I don't do it! Abstract expressionism is more my thing. The freedom and expression that can come through abstract work is my favourite thing about it. The viewer can feel the energy of the work while also seeing something completely different to the next person. 

(Alice Berry in her home studio in Tāmaki Makaurau)

What inspired your hillscapes? Are they based on real places?

I'm influenced by my experiences and memories. I grew up in Tauranga with Mount Maunganui and the surrounding hills around us. We also travelled over the Kaimai Ranges and into the Waikato frequently, to visit family, and for rowing regattas. Those green rolling hills are iconic New Zealand landscapes to me. 

My hillscapes usually aren’t of a particular place, more the memory of a place. The viewer can feel a familiarity to the scene, without it being so specific. My hillscapes are about those sunny summer days out for a drive, on a road trip, or out on the farm, breathing in the fresh air, taking some time out, connecting with nature. Or those quiet early mornings, wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of tea, getting outside to see the sun rise.

(Alice's bold colourful style works well in both small and large scale)

What is your process for creating a new artwork?

I usually paint the full canvas the colour that the sky is going to be. Then I sketch out a hillscape in pencil, just flowing with the shapes as they come. Once the pencil is down I start mapping out the colour placements in my head. I always have music playing while I’m painting and I’ll usually be singing along. The hillscapes need about 4 layers to get the thick, opaque look. I also freehand paint the lines, no tape or stencils, which can take quite some time - and often a lot of fixing up - to create the clean lines.

(Alice Berry is always using a tonne of colour)

Where do you create your art?

I have a small studio space at my flat. I've got a bunch of old carpet covering the actual carpet so I don’t get any paint on the floor! It gets lots of natural light and fresh air. Larry, my darling tabby cat, often hangs out in there with me, snoozing in the sun.

What do you want people to think or feel when they see your art?

I'd like people to connect with my work and feel the energy I have put into creating them. I hope that each time they look at the artwork they feel something nice, nostalgic or comforting.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I'm working on a few more landscapes. I’m also experimenting with some more abstracted works, playing with mottled light and a bit more expressionist. 
Are your paintings available as prints?

Yes! I have a selection of my artworks available as limited edition art prints. My prints are a crop of the original artwork, and are full of texture. People often want to touch the paper thinking they’ll be able to feel the texture! 

Images: Lauren Hughes and Alice Berry.

View Alice Berry's Original Paintings & Art Prints >>

(More of Alice's original paintings)

(A corner of Alice Berry's home studio)