Viv Wotton is a contemporary artist based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Viv’s landscapes span from small to large works in oil, blending expressive and precise brushwork. Through her colour palette and contemplative observation, the balance of control and fluidity her paintings invite the viewer into a space where nature’s rhythm and movement are felt rather than merely observed.  Each artwork a window into and expansive yet intimate remote beauty; a vastness and emptiness.  Viv’s desire to convey how landscape can express intangible value giving human meaning to our existence and sense of self (and therefore belonging), remains central to her work.

“My landscapes reflect a discovery into connection, seeking to reveal how memory and belonging can be felt in ‘place’.  The spaces are often vast (or moody in palette), evocative and atmospheric, built up in layers – a reflection of the trace and residue of time”.

“The landscapes I paint aim to create spaces that resonate and connect with people on an emotional level conveying the awe and wonder, the wild peace and beauty in the remoteness of a place in a contemporary and modern way allowing the viewer to feel as if they are the only person in the landscape.  Perhaps they recall a time and place that will evoke a sense of familiarity, belonging or connectedness to whatever feels like ‘home’ to them”.

“I have a true affinity with the New Zealand
landscape, the light here is like no other. The experience of landscape and capturing that moment of time, light or texture is why I paint”.

Viv spent years in banking and corporate environments before taking time to have a family (raising three daughters).  Viv then made the decision to take her passion for art into formal studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2016.  Since then, Viv has exhibited widely and been a finalist for multiple awards. 
Her work has been collected locally throughout New Zealand and has reached the shores of the UK and Australia.