Meet Pam
Pam French is a Bay of Plenty painter who brings landscapes to life with quiet depth and emotional clarity. She paints the places that stay with you - the ones tied to memory, feeling, and connection.
Lake Tarawera, with its shifting light and water is Pam’s happy place and a constant source of inspiration.
A life spent outdoors
Pam has always felt most at home in nature. She spends her days walking, running, hiking, fishing, and noticing the small shifts in light and atmosphere that inspire her work.
She grew up in Hamilton, lived overseas, then settled with her family in Auckland and eventually Tauranga, where she’s lived for many years.
How her practice evolved
Painting began as a quiet hobby and slowly became a meaningful part of her life. Pam is self‑taught, continually refining her craft through practice, observation, and visits to learn from artist Wayne Vickers.
She was a finalist in the Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival in 2022 and won a merit for both Best Oil and Tauranga Scene from the Tauranga Society of Arts in 2026. She is also a finalist in the Jensen Supreme Award 2026.
What she loves to paint
Pam’s paintings often begin with a moment — a familiar track, a coastline that feels like home, or a view that holds meaning long after life has moved on. She has a gift for capturing atmosphere: the light, the stillness, and the feeling beneath the surface.
Whether she’s working on personal pieces or creating commissions, Pam’s focus is always the same: to honour the landscapes that shape us and create something lasting.
