About Darren Burch
I’m a New Zealand artist with a deep appreciation for the cultural and natural beauty of Aotearoa. My connection to art began in childhood and has grown over the years, shaped by my heritage, life experiences, and the people around me.
Much of my work is inspired by New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and unique wildlife. Each painting or sketch is an opportunity to reflect the stories and places that have left an impression on me. I do my best to bring these moments to life with care and creativity, always learning and growing as an artist.
Before focusing fully on painting, I spent over three decades working with glass, 18 of those years running a small business that specialised in hand-drawn and etched glass designs. That chapter helped me develop a deep respect for craft, patience, and storytelling through different materials.
These days, I primarily work with acrylics on canvas and am currently developing a series of Kiwi-themed illustrations. My hope is that my art resonates with others, both in New Zealand and abroad. I’ve been fortunate to sell original works through galleries and online platforms and to participate in several online exhibitions. At the moment, I’m working towards hosting a personal exhibition here in Istanbul, which I’m both nervous and excited about.
Original Paintings
We regularly share new original works on our studio blog. You're warmly invited to explore them and follow along with our journey.
Commissions
I'm happy to discuss commissions depending on the subject and location. If you have an idea in mind, I’d love to hear about it.
Prints
Fine art prints are now available. Selected prints can also be delivered directly to your door through our online shop.
Love to keep in touch!
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More about the Artist
Thank you for taking a moment to visit our creative space. We hope you’ll feel a sense of calm, inspiration, and connection here, just as we do when we paint.
Our work is rooted in a deep love for New Zealand’s landscapes, wildlife, and stories. Through illustrative and landscape painting, we try to capture the spirit of Aotearoa in a way that speaks to others, not just to ourselves. Each brushstroke is made with care, and we’re always striving to create something meaningful, honest, and unique.
Much of what inspires this journey is the quiet strength and creativity of my wife. Her ideas and presence bring a peaceful rhythm to our process, and it’s important to me that this space also supports her artistic voice. Together, we explore themes that reflect not only our experiences but also the beauty we see in the world around us.
We’re not chasing perfection or recognition, we’re simply sharing what we love, hoping it might resonate with others. Whether you're an art lover, a fellow creative, or just curious, we welcome you to join us on this path.
Art, for us, is not about the artist it’s about the connection it can spark in others. If something in our work speaks to you, then that is the greatest reward of all.
The Journey
As a glass artist with over 30 years of experience, I’ve been fortunate to spend much of my life working with a medium that continues to challenge and inspire me. My journey began in 1984 at Maurice Sandblasting Ltd, where I received hands-on training under the guidance of Noel Maurice. His mentorship played a significant role in shaping my understanding of traditional sandblasting techniques, particularly the careful restoration of vintage glass panels and the recreation of intricate 1940s designs.
In 1992, with encouragement and support from the ‘Be Your Own Boss’ government initiative, I started my own small business, The Sandblasting Artists. It was a leap into something new, built on the skills and knowledge I had gained over the years. While the work was demanding, it was also incredibly rewarding to be part of preserving and continuing a craft with such rich history.
A 15-week business course helped lay the foundation for many of the skills I would come to rely on, things like managing cash flow, understanding tax obligations, building customer relationships, and handling day-to-day operations. With these tools, I was able to start a small business that grew steadily over time, eventually supplying wholesale glassware to a large portion of the retail market in New Zealand.
Despite a competitive and often saturated industry, I tried to stay creative by introducing new designs and products. Over seven years, the business became a team effort, with seven employees and a valued business partner who later moved on to a leadership role in logistics across Australia and New Zealand.
After selling the business in 1999, I joined Pilkington Glass, where I picked up practical skills like machine repair and maintenance. A few years later, in 2004, I worked as a glass polisher at Metropolitan Glass. In 2006, I had the chance to co-found MGM Sandblasting with a partner from Winstone Glass. By 2016, we were supplying glass products to a significant portion of the commercial and residential market across the country.
Unfortunately, the business faced financial difficulties and had to close in October 2015. It was a difficult chapter, but also one filled with valuable lessons. I remain deeply grateful for the experience and the many people I had the privilege of working with throughout that time.
The artist's creative path began at the age of nine, sketching and painting from books and family photographs. By 1979, they were drawing larger works on cardboard, a turning point that helped them begin discovering a style of their own.
In 1982, their efforts in art were recognised with the highest mark awarded in the subject at Selwyn College in Auckland, 98%. Photography followed with 88%, while other subjects, like maths and English, presented more of a challenge. Still, creativity remained a constant companion.
In 1984, the artist began working at Maurice Glass Blasting in Ponsonby, Auckland. There, they were introduced to the craft of sandblasting and glass design, drawing directly onto glass and carefully blasting imagery into its surface. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for a future shaped by creativity and craftsmanship.
A brief role at A.E. Harradence & Co. in 1987 provided additional experience, before returning once again to Maurice Glass Blasting, now based in Ellerslie. These years reinforced the artist’s understanding of both traditional and evolving glass techniques.
In 1992, with support from a government grant and after completing a 15-week business course, they opened their first business: Glass Sandblasting Artist. Operating from several locations across Auckland, including Newmarket, Mt Eden, and Henderson, the business grew steadily.
By 1999, the business was sold to new owners, and the artist stayed on for another year to assist with the transition. That same year, they also completed a large-scale painting that had taken four years to finish, a personal milestone. Blog
In 2000, the artist joined Pilkington Glass on Auckland’s North Shore, continuing smaller-scale projects at home. Four years later, they began working for Metropolitan Glass and later entered into a partnership with Winstone Glass in Henderson. This collaboration gave rise to a new business: MGM Sandblasting. In 2006, the artist bought out their partner and continued the work under MGM Glass Sandblasting until its closure in 2016 due to financial difficulties.
Between 2016 and 2020, the artist shifted focus, exploring imagination drawings for YouTube and returning to oil painting. In 2021, they began a new series of New Zealand landscapes, with plans to unveil the full subject matter upon completion of all 15 pieces. By 2022, the artist and their wife had embarked on a collaborative project centred on the environment and New Zealand culture with 56 original paintings
Working under the name Koru Kiwi Artist, their style draws on expressionism, storytelling, and the rich natural and cultural identity of Aotearoa. Across three decades in glass and visual art, the artist continues to embrace the freedom to create without limits, testing boundaries, refining their skills, and sharing art that reflects not only personal experience but a deep respect for the world around them.
In 2022, a new chapter began as my wife and I started a project together under the name Koru Kiwi Arts, focusing on themes close to our hearts, New Zealand’s environment and cultural heritage. This ongoing collaboration allows us to combine our creative strengths and tell meaningful stories through art.
I now describe my approach as that of a visual expressionist artist of New Zealand culture, a term that reflects the way I interpret and share the landscapes, wildlife, and identity of Aotearoa through painting and illustration.
Over the past 32 years, much of my journey has been in glass art, during which I’ve had the opportunity to learn and apply a variety of skills across different artistic disciplines. These experiences continue to shape the way I work today. You can find more about our work and ongoing projects through our social media pages, where we share updates, ideas, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from our studio.
All registered New Zealand artist. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Showcasing galleries that represent NZ Art
Glass Art:
Sandblasting artworks on glass
Etching, Sandblasting, Shading and deep blasting
Coloring and gold embossing
Engraving and brilliant cutting
XBS liquid or sheet (Dark room exposure)
Glue chipping
Cutting and polishing glass
Gluing glass together
Screen printing
Tissue printing
Glass slumping
Glass fusion
Reading architectural plans
Understanding glass products
Drawing and hand cutting patterns
Stick-on lead-lighting
Acid etching and making acid paste and liquid
Replacements and historical replacements
All glass products: Chessboards, Glassware, Trophies, 21st keys, Tombstones, Shower screens, Glass partition, Main entrance door designs, Interior door designs, Balustrading, Corporate and domestic Glass Designs, Glazing, Glass Measuring, Banks, Museums, Public bus stops, Exporting.
Painting and Drawing:
Painting with Water-colours, Acrylics and Oil painting
Pencil drawing
Pen drawing
Sketching
Digital artwork with 2DPencil and Corel Draw
Black and white film processing and developing
Technical drawing
Vinyl prints and cutting
Collage
Sculpture and Carving:
Sculpture
Bone carving
Wood and Metal works
Performing Arts:
Songwriter
Performer and Singer
Other:
Being an Extra on production and film work
Video editing for YouTube
Animation
Visual arts
Spray painting
Other skills: Builder, plumber, electrician, first aid, heavy truck driver, gardener, diver, and fishing boat skipper
Other Skills: Preschool English teacher.
New Zealand Cultural Glass / Artist Darren Burch
My journey in glass design spans many years, and throughout that time, one of the most rewarding experiences has been teaching others. It’s always been a pleasure to see staff members light up when learning something hands-on and unique, especially techniques that aren’t commonly found in the wider art world.
Over the years, I’ve also collected a number of antique photographs, many taken during my time in the glass industry. While I wasn’t able to document every piece I worked on, doing so would have created an overwhelming archive, I’m thankful for the photographs I did manage to keep. They serve as quiet reminders of a craft I’ve poured much of my life into, and of the many moments, people, and projects that helped shape the journey.
