Capturing Light by Rachael Hayton
Pastel works where light itself becomes the subject.
Featured Work: SunkissedPainted for the PANZ exhibition in Morrinsville and one of Rachael's own favourites, Sunkissed now hangs at Mavis Lounge in Te Rapa. The warm light on the red of the board is what made this one so hard to let go.
Available to purchase here.
Whatever the subject — a dancer waiting in the wings, a Sydney streetscape, an ewe and her lamb, or an old cottage on a cycle trail — it's usually the light that stops Rachael first. Light can lift the ordinary into something worth painting: shifting the mood of a scene, revealing texture, or drawing the eye to a detail that would otherwise be missed. In much of this collection, light isn't just part of the composition. It's the subject itself.
Capturing Light pulls together work drawn from tramping and cycling the Routeburn, Greenstone Valley, Milford Track, Tasman, and Central Otago, alongside urban scenes, architecture, and figure work. What ties these varied subjects together is a fascination with the way light shapes the experience of a place or a moment. It's also the thread feeding into Rachael's developing Quiet Light series — a quieter, more intentional exploration of how light can hold memory, mood, and story without needing words.
Explore original hand painted artwork available to purchase.
An ewe with her lamb caught mid-scene, so alive you can almost see the tail wagging as the lamb has a good drink and mum keeps watch. Rachael warmed the background deliberately to hold the focus on the family.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 500mm wide × 400mm high (65mm mat per side)
Unframed - Soft pastel on Pastel Mat. Size : 380mm wide x 280mm
Framed Soft Pastel on pastel mat - Framed Size 770m x 545mm wide.
Framed with UV artglass and acid free matt board.
A city scene worked on across three-plus days at a workshop with Julie Greig in Ranfurly, where the dappled light and the perspective both took some pinning down. One Rachael was pleased to see come together in the end.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 405mm wide × 505mm high (65mm mat per side).
Worked from reference photos by Alain J Picard, drawn in by the light and the movement in the source images. Painted on Rachael's usual pastel mat, where the surface let her build texture into the folds of the skirt.
Framed soft pastel on pastel mat. Framed size 450mm wide × 590mm high. Framed with mat board.
Companion to The Colour of Dance, also worked from Alain J Picard's reference photos, but this one painted on Art Spectrum paper. The change of surface produced the ethereal quality Rachael was chasing — part of an ongoing exploration of how soft pastel behaves on different grounds.
Framed soft pastel on pastel mat. Framed size 450mm wide × 590mm high. Framed with mat board.
Inside the Studio
Rachael Hayton is the artist behind the work on this site. Rachael uses soft pastels to create art that captures memories and celebrates beauty found in nature, architecture, animals, and sometimes just the small things we enjoy day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes – Rachael welcomes commission enquiries for portraits, landscapes, still life, and other subjects. Get in touch via the contact page to discuss your idea, preferred size, and timeline, and Rachael will provide a personalised quote.
-
Yes, Rachael ships worldwide. Standard shipping within New Zealand is available at checkout. For orders outside New Zealand, please contact Rachael directly so she can arrange shipping and provide a quote based on your location. Contact Rachael
-
Every artwork is hand-painted by Rachael in her studio in New Zealand. She lives and works in the Waikato, drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscapes of Aotearoa and beyond.
-
Rachael works exclusively in soft pastels, hand-applied to professional pastel paper. Soft pastels are known for their rich, layered colour and the delicate textural quality that defines her work.
-
Some paintings come framed, and some are unframed, this detail is available in the product title. If you'd like to discuss custom framing options, contact Rachael directly and she'll tailor the order to suit you. Contact Rachael
-
Yes – every piece in the store is an original soft pastel painting by Rachael Hayton, hand-painted in New Zealand. There is only one of each artwork available, and each piece is signed by the artist.
-
Soft pastel paintings should always be displayed under glass to protect the delicate surface. Hang the artwork out of direct sunlight to preserve the colour, and avoid humid spaces such as bathrooms. With proper care, a soft pastel painting will last a lifetime.
-
Yes – if you'd like to adjust framing, request specific shipping arrangements, or discuss anything else about your purchase, contact Rachael directly. She's happy to tailor the order to suit your needs. Contact Rachael