Manawatū painter Graham Christensen in residence at Mangaweka

Manawatu artist Graham Christensen's paintings depict his life-long love of farming. This one is titled Shall We Grab These.

Manawatū artist Graham Christensen will be the artist in residence at the Yellow Church Gallery in Mangaweka this long weekend.

His exhibition opened under the title Rural Recollections in March last year but after just a week of being open it had to close due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

It has since reopened under the title Rural Recollection Re-visited and includes a number of works he completed over lockdown.

Over Wellington Anniversary weekend Christensen will demonstrate his painting technique and visitors to the gallery can discuss his work and ask questions.

Christensen did not pick up an artist's brush until his early 60s but quickly showed a natural talent with oils and a great affinity with the rural landscape.

He lives on a farm near Palmerston North and works from a large, light-filled studio – a converted room at the back of the barn.

Christensen exhibits regularly in Manawatū and Rangitīkei and also has exhibited extensively in Queensland with his works being collected in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Christensen says his paintings depict his life-long love of farming and the rugged landscape that New Zealand offers.

His latest works are a reminiscence of rural life and moments in time that make up the rich tapestry of our farming communities and their significant place in our country's history.

Christensen will be at the Mangaweka gallery from Saturday to Monday, 11am to 4pm.

Admission is free.