Daphne Muller

Originally from the north of England, Daphne Muller relocated to New Zealand in her twenties and has called Kerikeri home for the past five years, following many years in Auckland. While living in Auckland, she studied at Whitecliffe Art School, where she met artist Carl Amundsen; a protégé of Louise Henderson and former artist-in-residence in Jersey, Channel Islands. His mentorship played a pivotal role in encouraging Daphne to return to painting, reigniting her creative confidence and deepening her appreciation for expressive, atmospheric work. 

Daphne’s art is rooted in a deep fascination with landscapes, particularly those shaped by trees and water. Her oil paintings, whether drawn from real observation or imagined worlds, explore mood, memory, and emotion. She paints not to replicate what she sees, but to evoke what she feels; light flickering through branches, the stillness of water, or the quiet presence of a secluded grove. 

Her work captures both the tactile richness of oil paint and the layered narratives of the natural world. Realistic scenes often celebrate the serenity and detail of meadows, forests, or riverscapes. In contrast, imagined landscapes take on a dreamlike quality, where trees twist impossibly, skies glow with otherworldly color, and terrain flows like waves. 

Whether portraying a familiar countryside or a mythical wood, Daphne’s paintings transcend the physical, offering viewers a moment to pause, reflect, and connect with something timeless. In every brushstroke lies an emotional resonance; an invitation to wander through both landscape and feeling.