Kay Ward

Kay paints in both Acrylics and Water- Soluble Oils, often including a variety of mixed media for background effects. Her work has developed over the years from realism to abstract.

She has developed a style of realistic portraiture in recent years completing several commissions to celebrate significant events in the lives of ordinary people. Kay has always seen design as her forte but is careful to consider contrast in colour, texture, line and space. She likes her paintings to surprise you. She often works in series as she develops her understanding of the subject and media. Some recent works include a series of large paintings ‘Queens Park, Our Place’ celebrating our glorious park and ‘Over the Rainbow’ which explores Death and Dying, but mostly considers Hope and Rebirth. She is presently exploring stylising the shapes of our Native Flora and Fauna to include in her designs. 

Kay Ward is a retired Visual Art Specialist teacher (1973 – 2012). residing in Invercargill She also lectured part time in Visual Art Education at the University of Otago, Southland Campus. She has over thirty years experience teaching art to all levels from Yr 1 to Tertiary and beyond. Kay has also developed and run several workshops for teachers over the years, helping them develop skills, techniques and knowledge of the ever changing Arts Curriculum. Kay Ward has written fourteen books in two series of ‘user friendly’ art teaching books which are published by Curriculum Concepts. She has also written a novel set in Central Otago called ‘Lyla’. Kay donates the proceeds from sales to Hospice Southland.