Kia ora, I’m Bernadette Ballantyne, I’m so glad you’ve found me and my art.

I grew up in a small town in Taranaki, New Zealand, surrounded by a family of creatives and a deep connection to the natural world. After completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in the early 2000s, I explored a range of creative pathways while spending over a decade teaching in primary schools — a role that strengthened my love of storytelling, observation, and nurturing creativity in others.

In 2019, the arrival of my first child prompted a shift in both my priorities and my practice. I wanted more time with my whānau and a deeper commitment to my art. I began taking on more commissions, and in 2022, I made the leap , resigning from teaching to focus entirely on my art business.

My practice is now centred around soft pastel, a medium I’m drawn to for its immediacy, subtlety, and ability to capture light and atmosphere. In recent years, my work has increasingly focused on floral subjects, exploring texture, depth, and the quiet beauty found in everyday blooms. Alongside florals, I continue to create portraits that capture moments in time, works that reflect connection, memory, and the lived New Zealand experience.

Teaching, however, remains an important part of my creative life. I now share my knowledge through soft pastel tuition, offering online lessons and tutorials designed to help artists grow in confidence, develop strong observational skills, and understand how to build depth and realism with pastels. Drawing on my background in education, my teaching style is clear, encouraging, and grounded in practical technique.

The past few years have been incredibly fulfilling, balancing creating, teaching, and raising a family, while continuing to explore new directions in my work. I’m excited to see where this creative journey leads next.

Thank you for your interest in my work, feel free to get in touch with any questions!

AWARDS/RECOGNITION

2025 - Tasman National Art Awards - Merit - The Fall

2025 - Honourable Mention - IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) online Fall show.

2025 – Purely Pastel – 3rd (Commended) – My Little Shadows
2025 – Selected work into the Cleveland National Art Awards

2024 – Tasman Art Awards – Supreme Winner – Resting Mum Face
2024 – Selected work into the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize

2023 – Tasman Art Awards – Merit – Kiwikid
2023 – Academy of Fine Arts, Looking At Ourselves – Merit – Russel

2005 – Emerging Artist of the Year Award

• Guest Artist for the Southland District Arts Trust

• Artwork featured in Colored pencil mag 2025

• Feature article in Artists of NZ magazine