Lake House Tutors

Ella Crooks

Ella Crooks is an actor, a musician, a performer and a teacher. She is currently attending University of Auckland, doing a BA in Theatre and Education. She has been tutoring theatresports and the occasional drama classes for over 4 years, helping to direct productions, and participating and acting in theatre shows too. With a passion for creativity and educating, she believes in helping those around her find their passion for creativity and self expression too!

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.    

Louise Davis

Louise is a fabric artist and educator. Her whakapapa and Scottish heritage provides influences for her art practice; weaving using traditional tools; painting using different applications, motifs and patterns; telling stories with needle and thread, weaving and blending materials together of past and present and enjoying re-inventing them. She is very respectful to ensure we leave the world a better place for our future generations; 'Creativity is empowering'.

Marcel Kalma

Marcel attended Elam school of Art in the early 2000s. He has contributed to various group shows such as Art Ache and Artist on Artists. He has been a Finalist in the Adam Portrait Award. Molly Morpeth and Tamaki Estuary Awards. He recently held an artist residency in Leiden the Netherlands.   

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. 

Navid Masoudnia

Navid Masoudnia is currently pursuing a PhD in Media and Communication at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand. His research focuses on an in-depth analysis of James Cameron's contributions to the science fiction genre. Prior to this, he earned a Master of Arts in Animation Directing and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. Since 2009, Navid has worked in concept and graphic design. As a concept artist, he contributed to the production of eight animated short films, taking on roles as director, writer, concept designer, character designer, visual developer, and storyboard artist. Navid has also conducted research in cinema, animation, and advertising and since 2014, has dedicated part of his career to teaching animation concept design, figurative drawing, and sci-fi character design through online courses for animation students in Iran. Additionally, Navid has published academic papers and presented at conferences, primarily on topics such as the role of mascots in advertising and character design in animation and is the author of the book Character Designing in Animation, commissioned by Iran's Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology.

Peter Grahame

 Dip. Performing Art.  Music composer, producer and director. Guitar, piano, percussion and vocals.   In the late 70's Peter began exploring music seriously by teaching himself guitar. He moved on to performance; playing solo and in numerous bands. After studying at the 'School of Audio Engineering', Peter completed a Diploma in Performing Art in 1997 and went on to compose, produce and direct music for professional theatre. For over 15 years Peter was a Music Specialist for Nelson District Health, providing music programs for intellectually disabled people.  Peter continues to perform solo and produce music, including the music for the successful 2021 summer season of "Era and the Kaitiaki", which was performed at Lake House Arts Centre. 

Rachael Burke

Rachael is an artist and art educator. She completed a Fine Art degree with (Honors) at Whitecliffe in 2021. Her creative practice is an ongoing exploration relating to perceptions of identity and selfhood. Working primarily in collage, her studio practice aims to investigate the multifaceted contemporary identity relating to concepts of the self. The fact that Identity is created through hidden processes, that we become individuals through metamorphosis, living in a constant state of flux are key concepts crucial to her practice. For Rachael, creative expression serves as a way for us to make sense and clarify inner experiences that often words alone cannot.

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. 

Shiraz Smith

Shiraz has 15 years of secondary art teaching experience in the UK, Africa, Middle East and New Zealand including leading art departments and being a Dean. Her qualifications include a BA(Hon) in Visual Communication Design and Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Secondary Art. Shiraz is a fine artist who has exhibited internationally, created murals with children and currently immersed in the art of paper quilling.

Sue Mansour

Sue Mansour is an Egyptian-New Zealand artist who loves to explore the beauty of different cultures and the connections between people.  Her creative process is all about diving into the intricacies of human experiences—everything from the colours people wear to what drives them. Sue also find inspiration in nature, enjoying  vibrant landscapes and animals' energy. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design, Sue loves working with acrylic and mixed media and runs her own successful Art business.  

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, teacher and mother. 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. 12 years in the wonderful world of learning at Playcentre allowed her to support both her children and families within the community. Creative skills were valued at her children’s school where she became a valued learner support teacher for divergent students; children who are visual spacial, who think in pictures. 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.  

Verity Kindlaysides

Verity has studied at Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts, graduating with a BFA in 2007. Verity also had 10 years overseas study and work experience in London attending at the Slade, UCL and The Royal Drawing School. She is a practicing artist working in painting, printmaking and ceramics. As an art educator Verity enjoys conducting demonstrations and teaching classes and workshops across Auckland, sharing her passion for the fine arts. Verity has exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand including group exhibitions, 10 successful solo shows and received numerous awards for her painting, printmaking and ceramic work.