Originally from the UK, Hayley Hamilton attended Central St Martins School of Art in London. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1993 and has been a full-time artist since 2001. Her career to date has involved running an open studio workshop, using clay, painting and a little commercial illustration. She is now painting full time.

Her practice involves original paintings from which she produces a range of limited-edition prints, digital art printed onto canvas and exhibition ceramic work. She has exhibited throughout New Zealand.

Hayley considers herself a painter and an illustrator who enjoys telling visual stories through her art. After the practical restraints of using clay artistically for so many years she loves the freedom of painting. To paint has been her true calling and an essential part of her creativity. Hayley's work strives for a connection with the viewer. To tell a relatable story is the intrinsic goal. Inspiration comes from life experiences, relationships and being consciously childlike, trying to see without any knowing is her goal, recording interactions that will later be scribbled into her sketchbook. Being a naturally curious person and delving into other worlds through books, films and conversations, ideas emerge that she then works on to become a painting.

“I am inspired by everything and anything from Renaissance embroidery, the family dog asleep on his bed or the expression of a stranger. Through the chaos that this brings emerges the seed of an image that I then work on until I am satisfied.” – Hayley Hamilton