Whakatāne Community Board Gallery

The distinctive features of Community Constable Paul Dickey have been captured in portrait by Manawahe artist Andrea Cooper for her new exhibition, “Heads Up”.

Constable Spike is one of seven local people Cooper has chosen to paint. She has also created two busts; one in fired clay and a distinctive bronze of former Whakatāne Mayor Bob Byrne.

Amongst the subjects are a fellow artist, a musician and colleagues.

“The inspiration for the exhibition came after I took part in a public demonstration of portrait painting back in February as part of the Te Kōputu public programmes supporting the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award. I have always believed Whakatāne is a great place to live, and often that’s attributed to our landscape and climate, but every time I walk down The Strand I’m reminded of what really makes it so great, and that’s the people who contribute, in so many ways, to our sense of community.”