Patricia Howitt

The Maori sky god Tawhiri-Matea depicted in the style of Maori carving, descends from the top of the picture over a fragment of rock that carries within it the sky and the planets. Behind the rock the curved symbol of the koru depicts the third element – the oceans.

These mighty ferns which can grow to 30 feet high are a wonderful feature of our landscape.

This is a pencil drawing that came largely out of my head. Two cats - very different, one obviously male (the proverbial ginger tom?) and the other pretty obviously female. But they are clearly great mates.

Drawn in pencil.

Looked at in closeup, there is a great deal of power in the developing frond of a fern, and that is one of the things that fascinates me about ferns. This was the first of a series of screen prints I created to celebrate Kiokio (Blechnum capense) which can be found on dry banks throughout New Zealand.

Though not as mighty as our magnificent tree ferns, it forms a great feature, as its adult fronds can reach 2-3 feet in length.

"I'm not moving from here!" Jack makes his position very plain, from the most comfortable spot in the house.

Etching - this version printed with black ink.

"I'm not moving from here!" Jack makes his position very plain, from the most comfortable spot in the house.

Etching - this version printed with purple ink.

Crunch and Crumble, my Birman cats, sitting watching indoors on the night of a full moon find that someone else is watching them. The owl is our native New Zealand Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae). Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.

My two Birman cats Crunch and Crumble at play. In their wildest moments, they actually leap round on two legs like this, reminding me of monkeys. Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.

My two Birman cats doing some etymology in a garden that looks a lot more elegant than mine. "Hey Mom we found a bug!" They are like children - insects are totally fascinating. Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.

Jack the cat on top of the fence, playing with a moth in the moonlight. "The Moon is made of green cheese", as the old saying goes.

Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.

Jackson was my first cat (of many) - but his antics still live on.

These are multi-layered, complex designs created digitally in vector with the bezier pen tool.

Jackson was my first cat (of many) - but his antics still live on.

These are multi-layered, complex designs created digitally in vector with the bezier pen tool.

This was a very popular screen print while the limited edition lasted. Jackson was my first cat (of many) - but his antics inspired so many ideas and they still live on.

Jackson was my first cat (of many) - but his antics still live on.

These are multi-layered, complex designs created digitally in vector with the bezier pen tool.

Jack, my first cat, out stalking on the garden fence in the full moon, with a bat in attendance. "The Moon is made of green cheese", as the old saying goes.

These are multi-layered, complex designs created digitally in vector with the bezier pen tool.

Jack the Cat out stalking on a fancy fence with the full moon behind him and a bat in attendance.

These are multi-layered, complex designs created in vector with the bezier pen tool.

Jack the cat on top of the fence, playing with a moth in the moonlight. Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.

Another of Jack the Cat's great poses. Headline unaltered - he sure could pick his spots. Multi-layered image drawn in vector using the bezier pen tool in Fireworks.