Collection: Bee Doughty Pratt

Bee Doughty Pratt is recognized for her evocative and atmospheric semi-abstract seascapes and landscapes which include imaginary vistas from the Bay of Islands to the Milford Sounds. Bee paints in oils and accepts commissions for larger works - often working on several paintings at once, layering oils, inks and other media, rolling, brushing, scraping or dribbling for a number of weeks until each one is complete.

"Water in some form or other features in virtually every canvas I paint, often created by using different media with my oils in very fluid ways. I like it when this watery spontaneity overtakes my paintings with unintended outcomes. Lately swathes of mist seem to be predominating. Not sure why but details, structures, horizons - even whole paintings now seem to be disappearing into the mysterious mists of time.”  

“Colour is also key for me . . . I love colour and try to use colour to capture atmosphere or evoke feelings rather than portray actual detail. Limiting my palette on a painting by painting basis, I feel, helps with this. Sometimes I happily binge on a particular colour for weeks at a time. Occasionally more vibrant colours lead my paintings into less inhibited abstraction."

Bee is based on the Kapiti Coast, an hour north of Wellington – until recently on a bush-clad clifftop overlooking the Otaki Gorge river and now on a sandy coastal peak with expansive sea views out to Kapiti Island and further north.