Hibiscus and Bays Art Studio Trail 2026
Friday, Feb 20 to Sunday, Feb 22
Key Points:
Registration closes 12th Feb 2026Drop off paintings 20th Feb 9am-10amPick Up paintings 22nd Feb 2.30- 3pmAWS dedicated display areaEnter up to 2 framed and 3 mounted unframed works$20 entry- flat fee and no commission
Affordable prices. All artwork is for sale. Cash and Carry
We can replace works sold over the weekend.
Art lovers mark their calendars for the return of the Hibiscus and Bays Art Studio Trail.
Formerly known as the Hibiscus Art Studio Trail, the event has been renamed to reflect its expanded reach. For the first time, the trail will include artists from both the Hibiscus Coast and the East Coast Bays, showcasing the growing depth of creative talent across the wider region.
The three-day, self-drive event features 30 artists opening their home-based studios to the public. Visitors will be able to see where artists work, meet them in person and learn more about their creative process. Artforms on display will include painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and mixed media.
The trail weekend coincides with the Boulevard Arts Fiesta on Saturday, February 21, creating a lively atmosphere across the coast and offering visitors even more opportunities to enjoy local arts and culture.
A central starting point for the trail is Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa, where all participating artists will be represented in a group exhibition in Gallery Four throughout February. The exhibition allows visitors to preview the work on offer and plan their studio visits.
During the trail weekend, Studio One at the centre will also host exhibitions by the Auckland Watercolour Society and the Hibiscus Coast Printmakers. Live demonstrations and informal have-a-go sessions will be held, giving visitors the chance to watch artists at work or try creating art themselves. Details of session times and any fees will be available through the trail website. This is a great opportunity to take the plunge and display your work.
Hanging Details
Below are the details from Estuary Arts about their hanging system. The main point for artists is your painting needs to have d rings on the back. Most framing places use these. You also need to have a swing tag on your art work.
Artiteq picture hanging system: this is the system that we use https://www.artiteq.co.nz For most artwork EAC uses the Artiteq picture hanging system.
We require all framed artwork to have D- rings.
We use the Artiteq Ratchet and Logger hooks onto two d-rings.
This means that work is secure and won’t move. (see below)
Self-gripping, non-personal hook. Secures itself through the spring mechanism in the hook.
Easy adjustable upwards in height by moving the entire hookup and down by pressing down the upper hook of the Ratchet hook.
Max weight 15kg per hook 30 kg per painting/artwork.
What is a swingtag? A label with your name, title of work, medium and price which can hang in front of the work for setup and which tucks easily behind the work for the exhibition.
Why do we need a swingtag? Once we have installed and hung the artwork we put the swingtag over the front of the artwork. We check that the details on the labels are correct against the information provided on the swingtag. This speeds up the process and also safeguards your work from being handled unnecessarily. If the label falls off the wall, we can easily identify the artwork from the information on the swingtag.
Any technical questions please feel free to contact Kim Boyd at the gallery09 426 5570 or 021 172 4113 E: manager@estuaryarts.org OR admin@estuaryarts.org.
For all other questions, especially concerning entry or payment process please contact secretary@watercolour.org.nz.
