About Me
I'm Renee Walden, an artist, tutor, and eternal traveller.
Through my watercolours, mixed media paintings, and sketchbooks, I explore the connection between place, memory, and creativity. Whether I’m painting representational or abstract landscapes or everyday street scenes, my art is about slowing down, observing deeply, and telling visual stories of the world around me and the people I meet.
I’m inspired by wild places, small moments, and the simple joy of putting brush to paper.
Born in South Africa and a New Zealander by choice, I now call Spain home, where I live with my husband full-time. For many years, we split our time between Lake Hawea, a small village on New Zealand’s South Island, and roaming Europe in a tiny camper van. This life of movement and connection with nature is at the heart of my art.
I paint the world around me.
Urban Sketching & Plein Air Painting
One of my greatest joys is painting outdoors. Wherever I go, you'll find me with a sketchbook and watercolours in hand — whether it's on a hike, in an abandoned town, or even on a climbing trip. My sketchbooks are filled with everyday stories of life and travel, capturing the essence of a place in the moment.
Each year, I fill a growing pile of sketchbooks, documenting the beauty I see along the way.
Watercolours & Abstract Landscapes
In my home studio, I translate my love of beautiful places into watercolour landscapes and abstract works. My paintings are deeply inspired by the countries I’ve lived in — South Africa, New Zealand, and Spain — with bold colour, rich textures, and often symbolic imagery that evoke the journey through these vast, beautiful landscapes.
As a constant traveller I'm very inspired by journeys and how to incorporate that feeling of movement and the passage of time in my works.
In my mixed media abstracts I often use symbols or writing to tell the story of a journey. In my representational watercolours I'm fascinated by old buildings, boats, and vehicles that seem to have stories and memories inside them and tell of the passage of time.
While landscapes are my main focus, I also enjoy painting nature, birds, and wildlife, especially after visits to South Africa, where nature’s grandeur is impossible to ignore.
My paintings are owned by collectors all over the world and I regularly exhibit when I'm in New Zealand.
Teaching
I believe anyone can learn to paint with joy and confidence!
Since 2017, I've shared my passion of painting in watercolour with hundreds of people around the world — giving them the tools to capture their own memories in sketchbooks and paintings.
My teaching style is friendly, encouraging, and fun — focused on helping you see like an artist, simplify what you see, and enjoy the process.
I hold a Higher Diploma in Education and love sharing my passion with others.
Painting holidays
These are the best holidays you could ever imagine! These are joy-filled adventures with sketchbooks, watercolour, laughter, good food, and a glass of local wine at the end of the day. Painting holidays are all about learning, creating, and filling your sketchbook (and your soul) with colourful memories.
Can't travel? I've still got you covered...
I've got over 100 tutorials are waiting for you! Learn at your own pace, in the comfort of your home. There's something for every skill level - and with a new post every week, there's always fresh inspiration to explore.
Hello Renee, tonight I painted your lesson of the lighthouse. Thank you for this great explanation. At first I thought... it would never work, but now the result is on my table. I can hardly believe that I managed this. Your calm manner is so motivating. Thank you for letting us see what magical images you create on your Patreon channel. We call it a really big cinema here in Germany.