Lake House Tutors

Chloe Lam

Chloe Lam is an artist recently moved to Auckland. She holds a BA in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) and a Master’s Degree in Art and Education. With more than 10 years’ experience teaching art to children, she runs a variety of art projects in different schools and studios throughout Auckland. 

Dean Trembath

Dean Trembath is a freelance animator, lecturer of life drawing and teacher of cartoon illustration and character design. He has diplomas in Commercial Illustration and Animation and has worked on the Disney TV series “Timon & Pumba”, “Duck Daze” and “Redux Red Hood”, as well as the, award winning, Russian tale of “The Two Brothers”. His passion for art has led him to master the mediums of Pencil, Pastel and Oil Paint, particularly focusing on portraiture.    

Gerry Copas

Gerry is a practising artist with 15 years tertiary teaching experience. His painting style is best described as hard edged and reductive. He was a finalist in the 2017 Wallace Arts Awards and has been published in the New Zealand Herald, Art News NZ; and NZ House & Garden 2018. He holds a BFA and MFA(Hons) from Elam School of Fine Art. 

Grae Burton

Grae Burton is a visual / performing artist and filmmaker.  He has over 160 artworks in the Wallace Arts Trust Permanent Collection. He was artist in residence at Suter Gallery in Nelson (2006), Artistic Director of Nelson's Independent Theatre and Arts Centre (2007 - 2009), and Special Project Curator during his tenure as resident artist, artist liason and associate producer (2011 - 2016).  He has curated and installed thousands of artworks across NZ.  Grae has mentored and worked with many contemporary artists over the years to help them develop professionally and make the most of their skills and talents.    

Jo Duder

Jo is passionate about teaching Art – with a bit of Art History too! She has a Teaching Diploma (in secondary Art/Art History), a BA in Design and has been teaching at primary level for many years. The creative process fascinates and inspires her. 

Linda Yang

Linda Yang lectured as a Professional Teaching Fellowship in Art History at the University of Auckland, where she previously attained her Masters in Art History. Linda has also completed an internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and was part of the Education team at the Auckland Art Gallery.          

Michelle Male

Devonport based artist, Michelle Male has been fine tuning her skills as a portrait and landscape painter in watercolour, acrylic and oil over the last 20 years. Michelle’s passion is for painting animals, people, landscapes and capture a moment in time. Her largest teaching project was coordinating a school mural. 

Natanahira Pona

Natanahira graduated from the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute as a wood sculptor. He has extensive experience managing sculpture symposiums and creating public sculptures around New Zealand. His passion for wood carving has spanned commissions, teaching adults and children and he is currently Lake House Art Centre’s Resident Carver. 

Peter Larsen

Peter has designed exhibits for museums, run a theatre and written plays and films. He has a Bachelor in Performing and Screen Arts from UNITEC and is currently doing a Graduate Diploma in Creative Technologies at Media Design School.

Rathikka Slick

With over a decade of experience within the film, tv and fashion industry as a talent manager, Rathikka has always been immersed in various platforms used for self-expression forms of art, literature and performance. Most recently she teaches and facilitates art classes for children. Rathikka’s philosophy of teaching involves learning art and history through an engaging, explorative and enjoyable creative process! 

Rosemary Dowler

Rosemary started making pottery in her early 20's. The wheel is her preferred method, whilst also using molds and hand-made methods. Rosemary’s primary motivation is personal enjoyment and the ability to tutor supported by her profession as a secondary teacher. 

Russell Kirkby

Recently returned from Hollywood, Russell Kirkby is a professional writer, director and producer whose local films, Cogito and Nova, have received funding from the Screen Innovation Production Fund (a collaboration between Creative NZ and the NZ Film Commission) and from the Ministry of Social Development here in NZ.

Shiraz Smith

Shiraz has 15 years of secondary art teaching experience including leading an art department and being a Dean. Her qualifications include a BA(Hon) in Visual Communication Design and Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Secondary Art. She is a fine artist who has worked and exhibited internationally. 

Stella Chow

Stella is passionate about cake decorating and mosaic artwork. Her wide interests range from tailor-made birthday cakes, mosaic artwork, decoupage, paper quilling to clay sculpting. She originally began her career as an IT professional and ultimately followed her passion and personal dream to become a cake decorator.

Susan Browne

Susan has attended courses at Auckland Studio potters, Chelsea Potters and Western Potters. She has 20 years of experience in ceramic tuition for adults and children at Kelston Boys High and Freyberg Community Education. Susan has technical experience of hand building; slab method, pinch potting, coiling, slip casting and clay modelling, decorating with slip trailing, graffito, Mishima and working with glazes.  

Susannah MacDonald

Susannah is an exhibiting artist specialising in water colour, oil and acrylic painting and drawing, a published author, illustrator, and art teacher both for adults and children. She holds a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts, is a flute teacher and a former primary school teacher. 

Trina Smith

Trina is an artist, graphic designer and teacher. Running a graphic design business with her partner from home for 25 years meant she could also support her 3, divergent children navigate the education system. She has extensive experience as a learner support teacher for divergent students - children who are visual spacial, who think in pictures. These art and teaching skills are in use today in her work as a teacher aide at Pinehurst school. Trina’s classes are fun and warm and diverse, mainly geared for primary age children where they get to sculpt, paint, draw and make an array of craft-based projects. 

Vanessa Gurung

Vanessa is a comic artist and illustrator. She has a fine arts background, but developed a particular love for comics through her master of arts in media. She has made a countless number of zines and has contributed to several publications, such as, Javascript, AARGH!, Lib-life and various Migrant Zine Collective works.