Explore the Wild Wonder of Ned Barraud at Lockett Gallery

If you haven’t yet wandered into Lockett Gallery’s latest exhibition, make time to experience the work of New Zealand illustrator Ned Barraud – a rich and engaging showcase that brings the natural world of Aotearoa vividly to life through detail, curiosity and quiet storytelling.

Ned Barraud is one of Aotearoa’s most widely loved illustrators and children’s authors, best known for books that explore our landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems with clarity and warmth. Based in Wellington, Ned trained in illustration and spent many years working as a texture artist at Weta Digital before turning his focus to publishing. That combination of technical skill and deep observational care is evident throughout his work.

What sets Ned’s illustrations apart is their ability to balance accuracy with wonder. His images invite close looking, whether it’s the layered life of a rock pool, the hidden inhabitants of a backyard, or the towering presence of native forest trees – there is always more to discover. His linework is precise, his compositions carefully structured, yet the overall effect remains playful and accessible, particularly for younger viewers. These are works that reward curiosity rather than overwhelm it.

Across his many books, Ned has developed a distinctive visual language that blends science, storytelling and humour. His illustrations don’t just accompany text – they extend it, offering visual cues, small surprises and moments of delight that encourage readers to slow down and engage. It’s a style perfectly suited to exploring nature, where attention and patience are key to understanding what’s really going on.

More recent work shows an increasing confidence in scale and narrative depth. Large, immersive scenes draw viewers into forests, oceans and coastal environments, while clever use of perspective and detail helps explain complex ecological ideas in an intuitive way. Whether depicting ancient trees, elusive sea creatures or everyday insects, Ned’s work carries a quiet respect for the natural systems that sustain us.

Seen outside the context of a book, as individual works on the wall, the illustrations take on a new presence. At Lockett Gallery, viewers can appreciate the craftsmanship behind each piece – the careful mark-making, the considered colour, and the balance between information and imagination. It’s a rare chance to see familiar images anew, and to gain insight into the illustrator’s process.

Whether you’re already familiar with Ned’s books or discovering his work for the first time, this exhibition offers a chance to slow down, look closely and reconnect with the natural world through one of its most observant interpreters.

Limited edition prints are for sale.

About Lockett Gallery

Lockett Gallery is a distinctive space dedicated to the work of published book illustrators – a focus that sets it apart from more traditional gallery settings. Located in Whanganui and operating as a sister space to Paige’s Book Gallery, Lockett celebrates illustration as both an art form and a storytelling tool. The gallery offers visitors the opportunity to engage with original works that usually live between book covers, shining a light on the illustrators whose images shape how stories are experienced.