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Kerikeri-based artist Bruce MacGregor has been drawing and painting from memory
since he was four years old. His earliest lessons came from his father, who taught
him to draw as a way of understanding the world; a skill that soon became a lifelong
passion.
Though largely self-taught, Bruce has refined his practice over decades, working
across a range of mediums and learning from master printmakers like Perry Davies
and Dan Weldon (Long Island University, New York), whose mentorship deepened
his understanding of technique and material. He has experimented with all manners
of paints, dyes, stains, mixed media, metal and timber; always seeking new ways to
express life as he experiences it. For Bruce, line, colour, texture, abstraction, and
sculpture are all tools of creative communication. His pieces often evoke a quiet
intensity: moments suspended in time, places remembered, and emotional
atmospheres captured with subtlety and restraint.
Bruce’s work explores the relationships between space, memory, and mood. He
often returns to themes of solitude, interiors, and the coastal environment of the Far
North. His approach is intuitive, layered, and emotionally resonant. Bruce has
exhibited widely across Aotearoa, and his art is held in both private and public
collections.
Lakehouse Studio is in Kerikeri, in the Bay of Islands in Northland, New Zealand.
Kerikeri is one of Northland's most interesting destinations, with artisan producers,
historic sites, vineyards, cafés and restaurants all within easy reach. A visit to
Lakehouse Studio can be easily included in a day spent exploring the town and
surrounding countryside.
The studio is the working space of Kerikeri artist Bruce MacGregor and offers visitors
the opportunity to see a selection of his work in the place where it is created.
Visitors interested in contemporary New Zealand art can arrange a visit to the studio
to view Bruce's paintings and other works and learn more about his approach and
practice.
Getting to Kerikeri and the Bay of Islands
Kerikeri is easily reached by road or air and makes a convenient base for exploring
the wider Bay of Islands and Northland.
By road, Kerikeri is approximately three hours north of Auckland. The drive takes
visitors through changing Northland landscapes and can easily form part of a longer
journey through the region.
For those flying, direct flights from Auckland connect with Bay of Islands Airport at
Kerikeri in around 50 minutes. The airport is only a short drive from the town.
Paihia and Waitangi are approximately 25 minutes away by car, making it easy to
combine a visit to Kerikeri with the waterfront and historic attractions around the
southern Bay of Islands. The historic seaside village of Russell can be reached by
passenger ferry from Paihia or by road and vehicle ferry.
Travellers continuing north can use Kerikeri as a natural stopping point on journeys
towards Whangaroa, Mangōnui, Doubtless Bay and the Far North.
Kerikeri rewards visitors who allow time to explore beyond its town centre.
The area combines some of New Zealand's earliest European and Māori history with
walking tracks, waterfalls, gardens, local food producers, vineyards and a strong
community of artists, craftspeople and independent businesses.
The historic Kerikeri Basin is home to the Stone Store, Kemp House and Te Ahurea,
while nearby walking tracks provide an easy way to experience the river and
surrounding landscape. Elsewhere around Kerikeri, visitors can discover local
produce, cafés, restaurants, wineries, gardens and specialty shops.
This makes a visit to Lakehouse Studio an easy part of a relaxed Kerikeri day. View
the work of a local artist, explore the historic area, enjoy lunch or coffee, visit a local
producer or garden, and take time to discover a little more of the Bay of Islands away
from the waterfront.
For visitors interested in art and the creative life of the region, Lakehouse Studio
offers an opportunity to see Bruce MacGregor's work in the Kerikeri environment in