Craig Potton Gallery, Ten Years As Hardy Street’s Gem
In the middle of Hardy Street, in Nelson’s CBD there is a gallery that is much loved by people in the local community and visitors alike. Home to one of Nelson’s most well-known artists since 2013, Craig Potton Gallery is a beautiful light and bright space dedicated to creativity. Whilst the gallery is a showcase of Craig Potton’s own renowned photography work, he and director Catherine Potton have created a vibrant exhibition space for a range of other artists and a thriving retail business too.
The front half of the gallery is dedicated to Craig’s photography. Craig’s photography style is coveted, beautiful New Zealand imagery is done extremely well. He is New Zealand’s best-known landscape photographer and a passionate conservationist. For more than four decades he has documented the New Zealand wilderness, exploring relationships between the concept of artistic beauty and wilderness in the natural world. His work is displayed amongst a range of carefully curated gifts, a collection that is ever-changing as Catherine and Craig discover cool and creative pieces that make perfect presents and complement the gallery.
Craig Potton Gallery is also home to other leading contemporary NZ artists, jewellers and ceramicists with pieces that change seasonally. Catherine says this side of the gallery is an exciting one, with different works from artists being thrown into the mix when the timing is right and a busy art calendar driving exhibits. “We have a few exciting exhibitions coming up. Euan Macleod will be showing in March, people will recognise him from the Suter earlier this year. Neil Frazer who is from Sydney but was raised in NZ will also be here in 2024. Then we also have Nelson Clay Week and Nelson Jewellery Week, which rotate each year. 2024 will see Nelson Clay Week take place – there will be workshops, events, and exhibiting artists here at the gallery and around town. These events bring a nice buzz of activity to town.”
Dedicated events bring the Nelson arts scene together, but the collective nature of the different galleries in the region exists outside of these, says Catherine. “We are a really supportive arts community. We often will refer customers to other galleries, or other galleries will send somebody to us if they know we have what the person is looking for. It is very open and supportive and that is really important in a small town.”
Craig Potton Gallery has been on Hardy St for 10 years and Catherine says in that time they’ve become connected to the CBD community. “We love this end of Hardy St. There is a really nice vibe, lovely eateries. We are right opposite Morrison Square, and there is beautiful fashion right next door with Shine too. Eclectic Antiques draws people into the area too, it is really a vibrant place to be.” Having supportive neighbours also helps, especially when times are quiet – bouncing ideas off one another, energising each other and telling you to keep your chin up as brighter days are coming.
The gallery is a star of the street too, with people visiting to simply spend time, even when they aren’t buying. “Local people do like to be part of what’s happening at the gallery and quite often they will pop in on their lunch break. The gallery is quiet and peaceful, we are not the hard sell place. You can simply enjoy the peace of the space; it is relaxed and comfortable and our regulars enjoy spending time here.”
Catherine says she also enjoys visitors who stop by for a chat. Regulars or people just visiting the region for a while are welcome to stop in.
Whilst the artwork and jewellery on display is of course a highlight, Craig Potton Gallery also offers a unique gift-buying experience. It’s a place to linger and spend time finding the right gift for a particular person – a process that can’t be rushed when you see the variety of pieces in the store. With books, children’s gifts, skincare, t-shirts, and what some say are the best greeting card selection in town. Or, if you simply can’t choose; vouchers are an option.
They also love to help people find the perfect present for their loved one and the gallery is always stocked with Craig’s own best-seller’s which makes the task of choosing a print easy. “A tasteful touch of home is often the perfect gift for somebody. They may be living further afield, and you want to remind them of New Zealand, or maybe you want to choose a piece for a local loved one to keep.”
Prints and artworks are available in a range of finishes from canvas, Dibond to Cotton Rag Paper.
The team are creative, so of course they love to gift wrap and offer this to each customer, with beautiful wrapping paper and gift cards to choose from.
Craig Potton Gallery is open Monday to Friday 10am til 5pm and Saturdays from 10am til 2pm.
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