Gayle Clearwater is a Visual Artist, Photographer, Sculptor and Educator based in Southland, New Zealand and the founder of Twisted Willow Studio. Her work focuses on creating meaningful artwork that helps people feel confident, preserve memories and celebrate important moments. Photography first captured Gayle’s interest as a young girl, inspired by her grandfather’s beautiful bellows camera. That early passion led her into a career as a freelance photographer. She later completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts, majoring in Photography.
Gayle now works from her own private rural studio, offering clients a relaxed, welcoming and personalised experience. Her practice also includes life casting, fine art and community art projects. Through portraits, hand castings and sculptural works, she creates personal pieces designed to be treasured for generations. Alongside her studio practice, Gayle tutors Photography and Printmaking at the Southern Institute of Technology and teaches community night classes at Southland Education. She enjoys encouraging others to discover their own creative voice and believes every person has a story worth celebrating.
