Stories from The Quiet Wild

The stories behind the paintings, encounters with wildlife, days out with my camera and the occasional bit of chaos from life as an artist. This is where I share the moments that make their way into my work, and quite a few that don't.

Framed artwork of New Zealand native birds from Karen Gourley's Forest Collection, in soft sunlight

A Little Piece of the Forest, From Me to You

Four little native birds, each with their own personality, and one simple idea: helping more people connect with the wildlife around them. Here's why I've created my Forest Collection and...

A Little Piece of the Forest, From Me to You

Four little native birds, each with their own personality, and one simple idea: helping more people connect with the wildlife around them. Here's why I've created my Forest Collection and...

Behind The Forest Collection

Behind The Forest Collection

For the past few weeks, my kitchen table has slowly been disappearing underneath pastel sticks, reference photos and a growing collection of little New Zealand birds. I've been working on...

Behind The Forest Collection

For the past few weeks, my kitchen table has slowly been disappearing underneath pastel sticks, reference photos and a growing collection of little New Zealand birds. I've been working on...

Bird of the Year is back. And I have a problem...

Bird of the Year is back. And I have a problem...

Voting for Bird of the Year 2026 opens today. Here are the NZ native birds I have painted, from the kakaruwai to the kotare to the ruru, and the one...

Bird of the Year is back. And I have a problem...

Voting for Bird of the Year 2026 opens today. Here are the NZ native birds I have painted, from the kakaruwai to the kotare to the ruru, and the one...

The Garden I Almost Tidied Away

The Garden I Almost Tidied Away

It started with a patch of nettles I kept meaning to deal with. They had tucked themselves behind the lavender and I would look at them and think, I really...

The Garden I Almost Tidied Away

It started with a patch of nettles I kept meaning to deal with. They had tucked themselves behind the lavender and I would look at them and think, I really...

Two Robins. Two Countries. Two Very Different Personalities.

Two Robins. Two Countries. Two Very Different P...

Two Robins. Two Countries. Two Very Different Personalities. The South Island robin is one of New Zealand's most curious forest birds. If you've ever met one on a walk through...

Two Robins. Two Countries. Two Very Different P...

Two Robins. Two Countries. Two Very Different Personalities. The South Island robin is one of New Zealand's most curious forest birds. If you've ever met one on a walk through...

Kotare_kingfisher_Christchurch_New_Zealand

Photographing Kotare at Allandale Reserve: The ...

There was frost on the grass when Buddy and I left the house. Sometimes the best moments arrive just after you decide to stay a little longer.

Photographing Kotare at Allandale Reserve: The ...

There was frost on the grass when Buddy and I left the house. Sometimes the best moments arrive just after you decide to stay a little longer.