BEACONS OF LIGHT

 

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The vibrant art installation ‘Beacons of Light’ has returned to the newly revitalised Heard Park, Parnell, for this year’s Christmas season.

‘Beacons of Light’ is a work of art comprised of five lightboxes standing tall in Heard Park. Now in its third year, this installation inspires feelings of awe and wonder each Christmas season. This year also marks the first time that ‘Beacons of Light’ will be installed Heard Park since it underwent a major revitalisation project earlier this year, illuminating the new green areas and play space for all to enjoy.

This year, the beacons are decorated with colourful works of art by two local artists—Liam Downes, Resident Artist at Eden Park and Art Battle NZ Producer; and multimedia artist Vjekoslav Nemesh, who specialises in oil paintings. Each artist has selected five artworks to adorn our beacons, which will stand at 2.5 metres tall and be illuminated by night.

This installation, which was commissioned by the Parnell Business Association, has become a hotly anticipated event in the suburb’s festive calendar. The Parnell Business Association hopes that the ‘Beacons of Light’, alongside the new seating and play spaces at Heard Park, will be enjoyed by all who visit this holiday season, inviting the public to pause and reflect amidst the bustle of Christmas.

‘Beacons of Light’ will be on display in Heard Park, Parnell from 24 November—6 January, and are free to visit for the duration of this period.

Here are the images of my paintings that are displayed at Heard Park:

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TEN FOOT ANGEL, oil on canvas, 101 X 51 cm

original available $6000, limited editions also available on metal

“Ten Foot Angel” is a radiant expression of celestial presence and transcendence. In this striking vertical composition, a towering angelic figure emerges from a luminous explosion of colour—where fiery oranges, pinks, and purples collide with serene blues and whites. The central figure, ethereal and majestic, appears to bridge realms, evoking a sense of divine guidance, protection, and spiritual awakening.

The sweeping brushstrokes and layered textures create a powerful sense of motion, as if the angel is both descending and ascending at once. Light radiates from the figure’s heart and halo, suggesting a moment of profound energy and transformation. This painting invites viewers to reconnect with their inner strength and the unseen forces that uplift and guide us.

A vision of hope and power, Ten Foot Angel is a tribute to the invisible guardians that walk with us through life.

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PRAYER FOR PEACE, oil on canvas, original is sold, limited edition on metal 75 X 50 cm, $450

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LIFE IS PRECIOUS JEWELL,

oil on canvas, 126 X 36 cm, original available, $3550,

limited edition print on metal

60 X 20 cm, $350

90 X 30 cm, $450

Life is Precious Jewel is one of my most personal and emotionally resonant works. A few years ago, I created another painting with the same title and gifted it to a close friend who was nearing the end of his life. I later learned that it was likely the last thing he saw before he passed away. That knowledge transformed the painting’s meaning for me forever.

This new piece carries the same spirit—an explosion of light, colour, and movement that symbolises the brilliance and fragility of existence. The radiant centre suggests a luminous core of life itself, a jewel glowing with warmth, love, and impermanence. Surrounding hues of crimson, gold, violet, and blue rise and fall like shifting emotions, reminding us how quickly everything can change, and how beauty can appear even in moments of transition.

This painting stands as a heartfelt reminder that life is precious, fleeting, and profoundly worth cherishing. Every day is a gift—something to be embraced fully, with gratitude and presence.

 

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ALTAR, oil on canvas, 150 X 50 cm, original available, $5,900.00

Altair carries a special personal tradition: it is one of the paintings I began on New Year’s Eve of 2008 and completed in the first days of 2009, marking a transition into a new cycle of creativity and renewal. Painted intuitively and without a predetermined form, the composition opened itself gradually—colours shifting, merging, and revealing unexpected shapes within the flow.

During the final stages, an ethereal figure emerged spontaneously in the upper right of the canvas. Its presence felt unmistakably angelic, as if appearing from light itself. This unplanned revelation infused the work with a serene, spiritual resonance. I could almost imagine this figure illuminating the wall of a modern church, radiating quiet protection and wonder.

The title Altair—a bright star often associated with guidance, ascension, and the celestial—seemed the perfect name for a painting born at the threshold of a new year, carrying with it both mystery and hope.

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TRUST ME, digitally enhanced image based on original oil painting.

Original is sold, limited edition prints on metal available. 80 X 40 cm, $550.00

 

A luminous journey into the unknown, Trust Me captures a moment of surrender and faith. Bathed in radiant blues and emerald light, a single bird soars toward a glowing source, its wings extended in graceful determination. The surrounding space is alive with ethereal movement — a blend of cosmic swirls, submerged dreams, and glistening orbs, as if the veil between sky and water has dissolved. This painting speaks of intuition, of letting go and allowing light to guide the way. With its vibrant energy and delicate balance of shadow and brilliance, Trust Me invites us to follow the flight path of courage, even when the destination is unseen.

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