Michelle Clair

artist bio

Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Michelle completed a three-year Diploma in Graphic Design and Photography, and then worked as a studio photographer doing advertising and modelling portfolios before becoming freelance and specializing in landscape and nature photography.

Living in the Wilds of Africa, she married and had two sons, and started painting professionally, drawing on her surroundings for inspiration.

Over a few years, exhibitions at InnerSpace Gallery in Harare, both solo, and group, graduated to participating in three group exhibitions held at Zimbabwe House in London.

There were several sell out solo exhibitions at venues in Zimbabwe before Michelle emigrated to live in picturesque New Zealand where she has already had exhibitions at the Akaroa Gallery in New Zealand's beautiful South Island, and the Selwyn Gallery in Darfield.

Until the Quake, Michelle exhibited paintings at the Merivale Fine Arts gallery in Christchurch. However this gallery is no longer.

She still does freelance photography both professionally and as a hobby, and designs and scrimshaws knife handles on custom made knives for local knife makers, (she is an associate member of the New Zealand Knife maker's guild) as well as doing painting commissions, and joined WAI, the Waikuku Beach Artists association, and participated in the WAI exhibitions for four years, she will be participating at exhibitions at the Nut Point Centre Gallery at West Melton.

After completing a professional Airbrush course, Michelle now also does commissions for airbrush portraits, life size and bigger, of brides, children and pets.

Michelle has paintings and scrimshaw in private collections in the United States, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.