About Collette

ABOUT THE ARTIST

A long artistic heritage almost guaranteed Collette Renee Fergus would have an interest in art and so it proved. She began painting young, prevailed on family and neighbourhood artists for lessons, and revelled in their skill and knowledge. At 11 she sold her first artwork, a watercolour of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, New Zealand. At 16 she took night school classes in oil painting, her subject matter still mostly New Zealand scenery. She exhibited often and at 17 the now Waikato-based artist had her first solo exhibition in Auckland, New Zealand. Eschewing formal training and the artistic style and methods of others, Collette developed a unique style early. She believes the growing popularity of her art can be attributed directly to this individuality.

Picasso, Dali and Kandinsky have latterly influenced her style. From the early 1990s Collette has worked in acrylics, attracted by their quick drying properties and the ability to incorporate texture. She uses bright, funky colours on any subject that sparks her imagination, and enjoys the surrealist concept in her art these days. Texture remains important and Collette uses anything from pumice and black sand to artist quality texture mediums.

 Known for her modern, contemporary artwork,Collette has two distinct styles: her serious, abstract and surrealist work, and a fun, contemporary range that includes an increasingly infamous character - Boozehag, now re-branded as Ms Chardonnay Minx, the glamour girl, who is more about nice things and fun rather than the wine. Collette is also a popular New Zealand commission artist with an ability to accurately interpret clients wishes. Her artworks sell worldwide, including private collections in Britain, Germany, Russia, USA, Canada, Spain and Australia, as well as from galleries throughout New Zealand.

Collette finds painting extremely rewarding and puts her heart and soul into it. She finds it most satisfying to portray emotions and feelings on canvas in a visual communication. Shes humbled by appreciation of her work.

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Motivational Speaker for the Arts

• Merit Award - Royal Easter Show 2012
• Finalist- Waitakere Art Awards 2011
• 5th Place Peoples Choice  6x6 Rochester Contemporary Art Centre, New York 2011
• Winner - People's Choice Award - Estuary Artworks Art Awards 2011
• Finalist x 2 - Waitakere Art Awards 2010
• Finalist North Shore City Art Awards 2010
• Highly commended - Art on Main Gallery, Tirau - Small canvas's  2010
• Finalist in the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award 2008
• Painting selected for  INPUT Magazine cover 2007 
• Finalist - Yellow Pages Art Awards 2003 and 2004

Exhibitions -

Royal Easter Show 2012

Off the Wall Exhibition - Artists Den & Gallery, Milford, Auckland 2012

Waitakere Art Awards, Auckland  2011

6x6, Rochester Contemporary Art Centre, New York 2011

Small Things, Waiheke Community Gallery, Auckland 2011

Pocket Rockets, Railway Gallery, Dunedin 2011

Royal Easter Show, Auckland 2011

Waiart Portrait Awards, Carterton 2011

Estuary Artworks Art Awards , Uxbridge Creative Centre Gallery, Howick, Auckland 2011

Waitakere Art Awards Group Exhibition, CEAC Henderson Auckland 2010

North Shore City Art Awards Group Exhibition, Mairangi Bay Art Centre, Auckland 2010

Beautiful Creatures Group Exhibition, The Bank Art Gallery, Invercargill 2010

Pocket Rocket Group Exhibition, Rocda Gallery Dunedin 2010

Its All About Me.....ow! Solo Exhibition 547 Art Space 2010

National Art Exhibition Napier 2009

Coasting Exhibition Artspost Gallery 2009

Vaka Eiva Group Exhibition, The Art Studio Gallery, Rarotonga 2008

Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award Exhibition 2008

National Art Exhibition Napier 2008

Coasting Exhibition Artspost Gallery 2008

Guess Who's Back, solo show - Thornton Gallery 2007

Artists of the Waikato, Group Exhibition - Thornton Gallery 2007

One Size Fits All, Group Exhibition - Thornton Gallery 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Artists in Wonderland, Group Exhibition - Thornton Gallery 2006

Coasting Exhibition Platform 01Gallery 2006

Art de Vine Group, Exhibition - The Coliseum, Gisborne 2006

Nice to Naughty, Group Exhibition - Funky Lizard Gallery 2006

Island Shores, Group Exhibition - Thornton Gallery March 2006

Naked, Group Exhibition - Mixed Media Gallery 2005

Art de Vine Group Exhibition - The Coliseum, Gisborne 2005 - Featured Artist

Boozehag launch, Solo Show - Mixed Media Gallery Feb 2005

Back by Popular Demand, Solo show - Te Uku Gallery, Waikato 2004

In the Beginning Group Exhibition - Gallery 547 2003

Solo Show - JBC's Hamilton 1993

First Solo Show - Pakuranga Gallery 1986

Pakuranga Arts Society Member's Exhibition 1985