Linda McFetridge: From the Stage to the Canvas.
The Artist Finding Her Light.
Interview by Paul Marshall
Today, I'm taking up a new skill, or perhaps I should say, taking an existing skill and applying it to a different art form. Because today, we're not talking music, recording artists or the latest live show. Instead, I'm stepping into the world of visual art to meet one of New Zealand's own talented painters, Linda McFetridge.
I catch up with Linda over the phone, just one day ahead of her latest exhibition, where she'll be showcasing her work as part of Art In The Park, which opens tomorrow at Eden Park. And as I quickly discover, Linda's journey into the world of painting is anything but conventional.
First up, there's something particularly fascinating about Linda's story. She didn't actually pick up a paintbrush until she was 34. So, what was happening in her life at that particular moment that finally made her take the leap?
“Finally I decided to do it. I've come from a performing arts background so my main trade was a dancer, a choreographer and then I moved into the film industry. So I've always sort of been in that creative realm and in the arts world and I was always fascinated with painting and light in particular and I guess working on screen that became even more apparent. It wasn't until I did a painting and drawing class with Matthew Brown. I almost just needed someone to give me permission to mark a blank white piece of paper. And yeah, away I went. The funny thing was, though, I was away for the painting weeks.”
Yes, you read that correctly. Linda actually missed the painting classes, yet somehow still found herself becoming a painter. Sometimes all it takes is that initial spark, a little confidence and the willingness to give something a go.
As Linda explains:
“That's when I realised it just needs someone to give you the confidence to give it a go, having the courage to make mistakes or experiment and play because that's how you build on that creative kind of process.”
It's a philosophy that arguably applies to every creative discipline, whether you're writing a song, stepping onto a stage or putting the first mark on a blank canvas.
A CREATIVE HOUSEHOLD
Creativity clearly wasn't something Linda discovered later in life. Growing up, she was surrounded by music and artistic expression. Her father played the accordion squeeze box and Hammond electric organ, while her mother was a violinist and costume designer.
How much did that artistic environment influence her?
“My mum and dad are dairy farmers, mum was a violinist and my dad, he played the good old, squeeze box, which I used to love watching him play as a kid. And he'd also play the Hammond electric organ. So he'd come home after milking and after dinner, he used to just play by ear and make up compositions. So there was always a lot of music and creativity around us and they always encouraged us to dance and to play music. I was very lucky in that respect.”
It's an interesting parallel with the music industry, where creativity often begins at home, long before anyone considers making it a career.
ART IN THE PARK: A LOVE AFFAIR THAT STARTED DURING COVID
Linda's relationship with Art In The Park goes right back to the beginning. When I ask how she became involved, her response is immediate.
“I was one of the original artists in year one”
That first event took place during COVID, when the idea of bringing people together for an art exhibition at Eden Park seemed almost unimaginable.
Linda remembers:
“This crazy idea that they were doing an art show in the middle of COVID in Eden Park. It was just magical and I just kept coming back. They couldn't get rid of me. The atmosphere, the family environment, the way it all comes together. And of course, Cary and Sofija.”
She's referring to founders Cary Cochrane, owner of Devonport's Flagstaff Gallery, and Sofija Matich, whose international arts experience includes delivering events for prestigious institutions such as London's National Gallery and the Wallace Collection.
Clearly, the combination of passionate organisers, talented artists and a welcoming atmosphere has created something Linda feels genuinely connected to.
THE EMOTIONAL POWER OF COLOUR AND LIGHT
With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Linda brings another dimension to her creative process. I ask whether her psychological background influences the way she approaches painting.
“You know, I never realised how much until the last few years and especially when I went back into my landscape. When I went back into painting landscapes, I started to understand that my process”
She continues:
“I have an understanding of how people relate and connect to each other. I think also connect into the environment or connect into colour or like the blue that I predominantly use now, it's a very emotive blue. I've had grown men cry”
Now that's something that certainly makes you curious about standing in front of her work.
Light and reflection are also recurring elements in Linda's paintings, particularly her depictions of rivers, coastlines and changing landscapes. So what is it about light that captures her imagination?
“I just got more and more fascinated with light and the environment. The other play of light that I really, really find fascinating is when you're in the bush in low light, like at dawn and at dusk, and there's this real kind of dullness, and it's kind of a soft light, which fascinates me as well.”
There's clearly more going on here than simply reproducing a landscape. It's about capturing an atmosphere, a feeling and a moment that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
ART IS ALSO A BUSINESS
Of course, there's a less romantic side to being an independent artist. Creating beautiful work is one thing, but pricing paintings, finding galleries, marketing yourself and actually selling your work is another.
How does Linda balance the commercial realities with her creative integrity?
“I've always looked at being an artist, you're just as much a professional as much a business person, like you're a small business so you've got to treat yourself with that professionalism and carry that forward in how you sort of approach your work.”
It's a particularly relevant point here in New Zealand, where our relatively small population presents challenges for artists trying to build sustainable careers. Like independent musicians, visual artists need passion, persistence and a business head to keep moving forward.
THE DESERT ISLAND ART COLLECTION
Borrowing a little inspiration from Desert Island Discs, I put a visual arts spin on the classic question. If Linda were stranded on a deserted island and could take two paintings and a sculpture with her, but none of her own work, what would she choose?
Without hesitation, she answers:
“Picasso's Guernica”
She's referring to Pablo Picasso's extraordinary 1937 anti-war masterpiece.
“Maybe I'm feeling dark after having that conversation”
Fair enough! But Linda isn't finished. She also selects Matariki by Jimmy James Kouratoras, adding:
“That artwork I could sit in front of forever.”
And when it comes to sculpture, her choice is equally decisive:
“I would absolutely take any sculpture by Levi Hawken's”.
An interesting collection that gives us another little insight into the artistic influences and work that resonate with her.
LIGHTHOUSES, LANDSCAPES AND WHAT COMES NEXT
So, what's next for Linda McFetridge? Artists are constantly evolving, and her latest project suggests there's plenty more to come.
“I've already started. So next year, I'm planning for another solo show with my fabulous gallery, Kingsroy, in New Plymouth. I’m sort of slowly working on a series of New Zealand lighthouses, I like to go and visit them, spend some time with them. I've just come back from a trip down to good old Welly to go to Pencarrow”.
She's referring to Pencarrow Upper Lighthouse, and the idea is to travel, photograph and spend time with these iconic landmarks before translating those experiences onto canvas.
“I like to sort of capture them, photograph them, and spend some time with them, then I come home, and I'm just slowly putting together a collection of New Zealand lighthouses.”
So, expect to see Linda travelling up and down the country, from Cape Reinga Lighthouse in the far north to Waipapa Point Lighthouse in the far south. It's a project that sounds perfectly suited to an artist fascinated by light, landscapes, atmosphere and the emotional connection we have with our surroundings.
FINAL WORD
Having spent much of my career interviewing musicians, producers and performers, stepping into the visual arts world has been a refreshing change of pace. But perhaps the biggest takeaway from my conversation with Linda is that creativity doesn't necessarily follow a straight line. Sometimes it takes a lifetime of experiences, a little encouragement and the courage to try something different.
Linda McFetridge's journey from dancer and choreographer to filmmaker and accomplished visual artist is a reminder that it's never too late to discover another creative passion.
And if you'd like to experience her work for yourself, there's no better opportunity than this week.
Art In The Park takes place at Eden Park from Thursday 12 November until Sunday 15 November 2026.
Grab your tickets, get along, meet the artists and experience some incredible New Zealand creativity firsthand. You might even find Linda's paintings have a little more emotional impact than you expected.
Tickets available here: Grab Your Tickets here