Artist Daniel Tippett was born in Coromandel in 1973 and was greatly influenced by his physical environment and the creative people around him. His father, Warren Tippett, a seminal figure in New Zealand ceramic art, demonstrated the discipline required as a fine artist, which Dan adopted in his foundation of oil painting. Meanwhile, his love of Hip Hop music growing up saw his talents embraced by Aotearoa's own movement.

Knowledge gained from his life between urban Auckland and the isolated Colville, Coromandel Peninsula, informs his unique designs endemic to this country. Native flora, avifauna, and South Pacific motifs applied to any surface with a spray can have earned Dan the reputation of being one of our most technically skilled aerosol artists. This has helped him forge a prolific career across street murals, gallery shows, public commissions, film and TV work, music albums, promotional posters, youth projects, t-shirt design, illustrations, painting venues, stage sets, correctional facilities, community buildings, motor vehicles, protest movements, political parties, environmental groups—you name it, he's painted it!