Feel-good art exhibition opens in Sumner

For Christchurch's Eleanor Grimshaw, the power of art is making people feel good when they look at it.

Viewers can experience this feeling at her latest exhibition.

Day-to-day Grimshaw, who lives in Sumner, works as a client relationship manager at Opes Partners.

But as a side-hustle, she creates multi-coloured floral artworks that express a playful imagination.

Last year, the team at The Rock asked her if she would like to exhibit some of her work, which she did after the Covid-19 lockdown ended.

Earlier this month, her second exhibition at The Rock opened.

Although Grimshaw usually creates photo-realistic portraits, after Covid-19 she said: “I wanted to create something colourful, that would make people smile and feel positive.”

This theme continues in her latest exhibition, which features a vibrant wall of colour, including fruits, flowers and people.

Grimshaw has worked with watercolour, acrylic and pen overlays.

Getting ready for this exhibition involved "many late nights", she said.

Grimshaw has practiced art from a very young age.

"For me, art is fun, and it’s rewarding to be able to create an image you have in your mind," she said.

"It’s also therapeutic. You don’t have to think, you can just relax. It doesn’t require the same brain power as a full day at work."

You can view Grimshaw’s work at the Rock, 10 Wakefield Ave, until the end of August.

The Rock is manned by volunteers, so it is only open when the signs are out.