Monthly meetings combine a hands-on workshop with a creative challenge critique. Regular plein air painting sessions take place across Auckland, with some weekends to locations further afield.
Members also have opportunities to exhibit: two to three group shows are organised each year, . These activities are designed to build skills, encourage experimentation, and connect painters at all levels.
Monthly Meeting
Challenge:- My Room.(lounge, studio, workshop, kitchen)
WorkShop:- Northern Lights Anna Mikhailova
Monthly Meeting
Challenge:- Cafe Culture
WorkShop:- Pet Protraits Jane Tian.
$10 fee for members
Plein Air Paint Away
Paint Away Leigh. Enjoy a relaxing weekend of watercolour painting and good company.
Monthly Meeting
Challenge:- Florals
WorkShop:- Values in a painting tbc Marina Waller
Cash and Carry Opening Function
Cash and Carry Art Show Auckland Watercolour Society
Join us for the Cash and Carry Art Show — watercolour artworks ready to take home. Featuring a range of pieces and accessible originals, the show celebrates colour and the delightful surprises of watercolour.
This opening coincides with four other exhibitions, making for a lively gallery evening and a chance to enjoy a wider range of contemporary art.
Drinks and nibbles will be provided during the opening. Bring friends, browse the artworks, and take something beautiful away with you.
Plein Air Paint Away
Paint away Cambridge
Enjoy a relaxing weekend of watercolour painting and good company.
Meet up point is Penmarric House, 50 Hamilton Rd, Cambridge.
This is the place where the majority will be staying. If adverse weather conditions, this will also be the place for painting. Book your accommodation early.
Cash and Carry Drop OFF
2026 Cash and Carry Exhibition
28th May - 2nd June 2026
Our Annual Cash and Carry Exhibition features a great variety of watercolour paintings from our members. It is held in the foyer of Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa. A great opportunity to purchase an original painting at an affordable price.
Delivery Instructions
· Thursday 28th May to MIDDAY on Tuesday 2nd June.
· to Studio 3 – where the Auckland Watercolour Society Sign will be.
· There will be a Schedule of Entries. Please tick off your painting. Match the swing tag to the schedule. Note the tag MUST fit the schedule not visa versa.
· You are paid according to the schedule, based on your entry form. Email any changes before 20th May
· There are 5 exhibitions running at the same time. Ours will be hung last.
· Opening: Saturday 6th June at 3pm (with the other 4 exhibitions also opening at this time). There will be drinks & nibbles supplied during the opening.
Monthly Meeting
Challenge: - Triptych street corner, city or rural
WorkShop:- Shorebirds and water Elise de Silva
Plein Air Painting 28th Feb
60 Rosecamp rd, Beach Haven
Meet 9.15 onwards.
Painting at John and Michelle’s house. Seaviews, beach, still life and flowers.
Shared Lunch
You don't have to be a member of Auckland Watercolour Society join us.
Hibiscus Art Studio Trail
Drop Off Paintings 20th Feb 9am Estuary Arts Orewa
Pick up paintings 22nd Feb 3pm Estuary Arts Orewa
Plein Air Painting 31 January 2026
Kells Park Albany
Meeting 9.45am
You don't have to be a member of Auckland Watercolour Society join us.
Kells Park Albany. Loads of parking, easy pathway access down to the Lucas Creek, public toilets, kayaking and jetty, riverbank and reflections. A picnic lunch at end
Next to the Albany Village Library, this open park has plenty of trees and picnic tables to relax and enjoy a picnic. There are paved paths and areas of boardwalk through the park.
Access the car park from Kell Drive.
A playground, toilets, car park, picnic tables and seating are inside the park.
ANNUAL MERIT AWARDS
The Auckland Watercolour Society is excited to announce the 2025 annual Merit Awards
showcasing paintings by our members.
Entries open to all members and closes 14th Sept 2025
Plein Air Painting August
Okoroire
Paintaway trip to Okoroire ( about 5 kilometres from Tirau).
Meeting - 9.45 outside reception of Okoroire hotel, Friday and Saturday.
Some members are travelling down on Thursday 29th August, to paint on the Friday and the Saturday. Please make own bookings for accommodation, and if you want to room share and car pool. There is space in a vehicle going down on the Thursday. Okoroire offer hot thermal pools, a lovely hotel, cottages a 9 hole golf course, and fantastic rural views.
August Workshop and Challenge
Challenge A continuation of Poems from Donald. You can either illustrate another poem of your choice, or complete the work started on Monday.
Workshop A botanical painting of the Kahu Kura (Red Admiral) butterfly, under guidance from Donald. Members will be required to accurately draw and paint the butterfly. This is to support the Forest and Bird exhibition in September.
Plein Air Painting July
Puhoi Village
Meeting 10am
Meet at 10 am in the car park across the river, by the toilet block.
Come an enjoy painting in this historic town. Stay for lunch and a discussion on the paintings done.
Puhoi is a character town influenced by the early Bohemian settlers, with an historical pub, old saddlery and Trading Post/stables. It is also a lovely rural setting.
You don't have to be a member of Auckland Watercolour Society join us.
Monthly Workshop and Challenge
Challenge Self Portrait
Workshop Glass Bottles with Marina Click here for notes.
Plein Air Painting June
Britomart
Auckland, CBD
Meeting 10am
Meet outside Starbucks in foyer of Britomartat 10am.
Bring your painting gear and something to sit on. Wrap up warm and enjoy a morning painting this beautiful building, inside or out.
Plein Air Painting May
This Plein Air is also a paint away weekend. Come for the day or stay the weekend. Meet outside the toilet block at Anchor Bay at 9.45 am.
Windy or unfavorable weather, we will be at El Kedira(Bach), 26 Campbell Road, Campbells Beach, Tawharanui (limited phone coverage).
Meeting 9.45 at Anchor Bay (unless weather bad see above)
May Tawharanui
Some are staying 2 nights, 30th and 31st May at Campbells Beach,(Bachcare)near to Tawharanui. If you want to stay, arrange own accommodation or there may be a spare bed in the Campbells Beach accommodation, please ask us.
Painting Saturday morning and afternoon at Tawharanui meet outside the toilet block at Anchor Bay at 9.45 am.
Windy or unfavourable weather, we will be at El Kedira, with limited cellphone coverage.
Shared dinner at El Kedira, 26 Campbell Road, Saturday. Great facilities available. Come and socialize for an hour or two.
Sunday morning, painting at Campbell Beach. Cottage to be vacated by 10 am.
Monthly Workshop and Challenge
Challenge Threatened Species of NZ
Workshop Adeline will be running this workshop, and she is preparing an exciting afternoon, sharing some of the tips and tricks she learnt on the Hazel Soan course she recently attended. Hazel Soan is a highly respected international artist and came to NZ in April 2025.
Cash and Carry
Annual Cash and Carry exhibition is a great opportunity to view and purchase a variety of art work from a number of different artists who are members of the Auckland Watercolour Society.
Buy a painting Take it home with you.
Plein Air Painting April
Kumeu
26 April Soljans Winery 366 State Highway 16 Kumeu 0892
Painting from 10-12. There is a restaurant or bring your own for a picnic lunch. Hopefully, there will be some nice autumn colours;
Meeting 9.45 at Cellar Door
Monthly Workshop
Hi members,
A brief reminder about the workshop this Monday, 10th March, 12.30 at Glenfield Hall, Hall Road, Glenfield.
Nicoletta an experienced illustrator of children's books, and a member of AWS, will be teaching us layering in watercolour. Bring your paints and paper, and your interpretation of My Origin the monthly challenge. We have 4 new members this month, and look forward to meeting you all.
People on HBC, we carpool, meet at EAC, 11.30 am.
Plein Air Painting February
Huia
The journey there is straightforward, use google maps, and follow the signs. Meet at Huia Lookout, at 9.45, on the city side of Huia. Great views up, down and across the harbour, plenty of room for several artists. There are also great painting options at Little Huia, water, headlands, bridge, boats launching.
Meeting 9.45 at Huia lookout.
Bring lunch and drink, there is a café at Huia.