Erin Hill Sketching New Zealand

🌲 The walk was hot, but the reward was worth it. Reaching the Spetses lighthouse and then settling into the shade of the pine trees to sketch was the perfect way to capture the scene. The shimmer of the Aegean, the bold Greek flag, and the cool relief of shade all made their way onto the page.

360 degrees in a zigzag book – captured on the sparkling waters of Spetses, last September. There’s something magical about letting the sketch flow across the folds of the page, building up a full circle of colour, light, and memory. Travel sketching doesn’t just record what’s in front of you – it opens up the whole scene.

Kamini, Hydra – a quiet little enclave just around from the main port. This sketch was captured en plein air in September last year, sitting above the harbour with the colourful boats drifting below. The joy of travel sketching is how it brings you right back to the sunshine, the sea breeze, and the rhythm of Greek island life.

A chilly afternoon in Auckland in Emily Place Reserve – layers on, sketchbook out. While the reserve is steeped in history, it was the reflections of glass, steel, and cranes that caught my eye. The challenge? Capturing the geometry of construction against the shifting sky. Sometimes the story of a place is told not just by what has stood for years, but also by what is still being built.

The most bizarre map ever? Definitely. This “wonky” sketch flips the world on its head – literally – with Antarctica front and centre. Sometimes, a little shift in perspective changes everything.

The Grandies have come to stay… and the hallway tells the story. Each pair of shoes lined up, ready for adventure – Dad, Sammy, Jack, and little Tessa. Sometimes, the smallest everyday moments make the most colourful memories.

“Dad’s Old Truck” – Not the exact one, but the memories came rushing back the moment I spotted this Austin beauty parked up in Arrowtown. One quick brake, out came the sketchbook, and I was transported back to being a 4-year-old riding along on Dad’s deliveries – and, of course, playing with the old yellow hand indicator. Some memories are worth sketching.

This time last year – sitting on the bowsprit of a yacht, pen in hand, drifting across the sparkling Aegean waters. The magic of sketching en plein air is how it takes you straight back to that moment – the salt air, the sunshine, and the gentle sway of the sea.

A quiet tribute to the golden age of travel.
This quick sketch is Tony’s homage to the iconic 1930s photo of light beams piercing through Grand Central Station. Created with wax pencil and Payne’s Grey—no pen, just light and shadow.

History meets sketchbook.
The Cromwell Argus was a local newspaper founded in 1869, and this rusted tin shed was its home. Tony captured the story, textures, and colours on location—where the past still lingers in every weathered panel.