In the face of earthquakes, hard frosts, cabin fever and gloomy global forecasts, it’s vital to stay Cool, Calm & Collected. John Burns, Jacqui Gibbs Chamberlain and Candy Clarke defy the somber grey of winter in a show pulsing with uninhibited vigor and colour.

John Burns hails from either Christchurch or Otira, or as he calls it ‘The Coast’. A painter for over 25 years, he has developed his own themes and unique figurative style. Right now it is his ‘Ladies’ that beckon to be brought to light.

Jacqui Gibbs Chamberlain lives and paints from an isolated farm on Banks Peninsula. Her instinctual figurative paintings radiate life, energy and movement. These latest works mingle ideas around instinctual responses in humans and animals, inspired by recent travel and the Canterbury earthquakes.

Candy Clarke needs little introduction to the local Nelson arts community. Her signature medium - reverse painted Perspex artworks are intuitively playful and refreshingly honest in their intent. This current selection of works respond to the pond water viewed from Reflections gallery, balancing cool calming images with hot and complimentary colours in a variety of shaped formats.