Shiralee is a Northland artist who creates hanging sculptural works from copper wire. After many years as a primary school teacher, she began exploring the medium while teaching students to coil wire for homemade radios. What started as a classroom technique soon evolved into a distinctive artistic practice. A passionate tramper and lover of the outdoors, Shiralee draws inspiration from New Zealand’s native forests. Trees became a natural focus for her work, leading to a series of intricate sculptures that reflect the unique structure, form and characteristics of different species. She works with copper wire for it’s rich lustre, warmth and reflective qualities, which echo the shifting light and atmosphere of the bush. Through her wirework, she combines a painter’s sensitivity to line and composition with a deep appreciation for the natural environment.