Margaret describes her work as personal symbolism, as it is based on personally acquired and assimilated experiences of her life and the environment where she lives. This environment, between the mountain, Mt Egmont/Taranaki, and the Taranaki coastline she reflects in symbols of the area. Shellfish such as paua and the sea feature strongly in her work as it symbolises the memories of her childhood of growing up on the coast at Oaonui, and the coastal environment. For 35 years Margaret lived on a Dairy farm with her husband Ian, and bought up their 4 children, painted and helped with the running of the farm. The paintings of cows reflect this time in her life. She taught polytechnic and art night classes in the early years when her children were young and then for 10 years she was HOD of Art at Opunake High School. She now lives at Oakura, which is a coastal village 10 minutes south of New Plymouth and has built a studio next to her new home where she runs workshops for adults and extension classes for students. Her work now also focuses on the views she has of the Kaitaki ranges and the native plants in her garden such as nikaus, pukas, flax and cabbage trees, and of course the beautiful views of the sea. Her new environment is an abundant resource for creative ideas. Margaret paints mainly in acrylics, does some watercolours but she also loves mixed media and creating textural works. She alternates her media so she does not become bored with her work. She has produced many commissioned works and is the designer of the Jason Products placemats the 'Sea Bounty' series, which are marketed through out New Zealand and overseas. She has a large range of prints and cards for sale produced from her original work.  Exhibitions | |
| 2007 | 'Tropical Tango' -exhibition with Rae van't Hof at Kina Art and Design Space. |
| 2006 | Selected for group exhibition 'Impressions of our Mountain' at Percy
Thomson Gallery. ' The Garden Series'solo exhibition Art by the Sea Studio. '200 x200 x200 Kina Xmas Show'-group exhibition |
| 2005 | 'New works 2005' -solo exhibition at Art by the Sea Studio |
| 2004 | Merit Award-'The Flower Show' at Percey Thomson Gallery 'The Mountain,the Sea and In Between'-solo exhibition at Art by the Sea Studio Selected for group exhibition Taranaki Artists at Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford. Selected for group exhibition Le Meilleur du Nouvelle Zelande in Paris |
| 2003 | Solo exhibition 'NZ Bush Series' at Art by the Sea Studio |
| 2002 | Solo exhibition 'Between Two Worlds' at Art by the Sea Studio 'Tart Melba', Taranaki art in Melbourne, Australia |
| 2000 | Solo exhibition 'Coastal Treasures" at Kina Gallery, New Plymouth. Solo exhibition Virtual Tart site in conjunction with exhibition at Kina Gallery. New York Exhibition Apple Tart (group exhibition Taranaki artists from Virtual Tart site) International exhibition at Shomeido Gallery, Tokyo by Internet. |
| 1998 | International exhibition at Tubal Cain Gallery, Harrogate, England Taranaki Artist on Virtual Tart Site |
| 1993 | Solo Exhibition at Taranaki Museum, New Plymouth called 'A Review of the Taranaki Environment Series' Solo exhibition at Steppes, New Plymouth. Group exhibition of 3 woman artists Ponsonby Gallery, Auckland called 'Rural Impressions'. |
| 1992 | Solo Exhibition at Gallery 79,Hawera, 'Taranaki Environment Series' |
| 1990 | Exhibition by 9 woman artists( the Chariot) at Gallery 79, Hawera, called "Under The Wraps'. Solo exhibition at Hawera Information Centre called "Garden Series'. Solo Exhibition at Centre Court , New Plymouth called 'New Vision' Series. |
| 1988 | Solo exhibition at Hawera Information Centre |
| 1983 | First solo exhibition at Swiss Club, Kaponga in conjunction with 'Earth and Fire'
( a Central Regional Arts council Touring Arts Project). |
Art Taranaki 1993 Pahiatua Art Award 1992 Taranaki Review 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986,1987 Thames Art Award 1991 Raglan Art Award 1988 Academy of Fine Arts 1984,1983. Finalist Telecom Art Award 1991, 1992 and 1993 And has exhibited with Taranaki Art Society, Stratford Art Society, Hawera Art Cub and The Real Tart Gallery. | |
Faculty of Arts Leader Opunake High School 2000 Head of Dept of Art Opunake High School 1995 to 1999 National Moderator School Certificate Art 1998,1999,2000,2001 Polytechnic Art Tutor 1985 to 1992 at Opunake and Hawera Night Class tutor 1997 to 1993 Opunake Invited Art Tutor at Wanaka Autumn Art School 1995 Weekend workshops at Whakatane and Kawerau 2002, Taumarunui 2003 and 2004, and Napier 2004. Workshops from Art by the Sea studio from 2002 onwards. | |