From mid-May to early June, Aucklanders have a rare opportunity to see and own a piece of the region’s history from the unique perspective of painter Eirlys Shand. Eirlys, now in her 80s, donated 30 works from her private collection to Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna for an exhibition and auction fundraiser to support kids' art education programmes at Lake House Arts.

Leaving school at 15 years old, Eirlys did not find the opportunity to fully express herself artistically until later in life. She painted stylised floral representations and scenes of the people and life in Auckland while her supportive husband Neil crafted and built the frames for her work.

While on the Board of Governors at Lynfield College, Eirlys assisted with the implementation of a Learning Support programme. That system was later adopted in schools around the country. Over the years the programme has supported thousands of New Zealand children to learn to read.

Eirlys was also New Zealand distribution agent in charge of mailouts for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. It was largely from CND (NZ) and the Peace Media that Greenpeace New Zealand was formed.

Through the ’70s and ’80s she sold work through influential art dealer Denis Cohn, who also represented artists such as Malcolm Harrison, Christine Hellyar, Tony Fomison, Philip Clairmont and Allen Maddox.

Eirlys Shand’s paintings, exhibited under the title ‘Eirlys Shand - Legacy and Community - Exhibition and Fundraiser’, were auctioned over Queen’s Birthday weekend. The works show a snapshot of everyday New Zealand and the political climate and social issues of the time. Exhibited works include artworks from 1974 to 1990 and include floral works, social comments and representations of street and suburban life in Auckland from the period. The collection was shown and auctioned as is, and was most likely the last exhibition of Eirlys’ collected works to be presented. The exhibition was supported by Moving Made Easy (www.movingmadeeasy.co.nz).