On a Journey
by Rachael Hayton
Paintings from the tracks, trails, and quiet corners of Aotearoa.
Featured Work: Stone and SilenceFrom a photo that was taken from the boat that takes travelers down the part of the Roxborough Gorge you can’t yet bike. This is an old hotel that looked after the gold mine. I loved the way it was there nestled on the river bank - surrounded by nature only.
Available soon — for early enquiries, please contact Rachael directly.
Many of Rachael's paintings begin with a journey. Tramping the Routeburn, Greenstone Valley, and Milford Track. Cycling the Clutha Gold Trail and the South Island's rail trails. Quiet days walking Aoraki/Mount Cook, Napier, and Tasman. The pace of walking and riding leaves time to notice what a passing car would miss: light on alpine water, a weathered rock face, mist settling in a valley, the small details that give a place its character.
On a Journey gathers pastel works inspired by these places. Not literal records of a trip, but the memories and emotions carried home from it. Alongside sweeping landscapes, you'll find the quieter subjects Rachael is drawn to along the way. An abandoned car on the Clutha Gold Trail. A stone cottage on the Roxburgh Gorge. A weathered old house on a Napier back street. These belong to her developing Quiet Light series, which looks for the stories, memories, and traces of history held within a place.
Explore original hand painted artwork available to purchase.
Painted close to the end of the Routeburn Track on the final day of the walk, using a watercolour underpainting with a lighter touch learned from Tricia Taylor to bring the water to life.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 500mm wide × 400mm high (65mm mat per side).
A tired Napier shed, held up against the odds and warmed by early evening light. Awarded second place in the 2025 PANZ Recycle and Reuse challenge, the judges praised the care given to every supporting element, from golden hay bales to weathered fence posts.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 585mm wide × 445mm high (60mm mat per side).
A quiet lunch spot found on a kayak day walking in Tasman, where rocks scattered through still water and a low tree branch made Rachael pause and paint the scene in soft pastel.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 600mm wide × 445mm high (65mm mat per side).
Painted from the Milford Track, a walk Rachael completed during the Covid years. The way the light played through the trees and into the water made this scene irresistible to both photograph and paint. Capturing the movement and mood of water is a challenge she keeps returning to.
Framed soft pastel on pastel mat. Framed size 310mm wide × 400mm high. Framed with Artglass and acid free mat board.
Discovered in the middle of nowhere on the Clutha Gold Trail, this beautifully abandoned car was too good to pass by. Rachael stopped to photograph it and later brought it into pastel.
Framed soft pastel on pastel mat. Framed size 600mm wide × 450mm high. Framed with Artglass and acid free mat board.
A grey day on the Clutha Gold Trail bike ride, with Rachael taking a side walk down to the river. The rushing water and the layered sky, water, and bush caught her eye and became the painting.
Framed soft pastel on pastel mat. Framed size 620mm wide × 480mm high. Framed with Artglass and acid free mat board.
An early start on the last day of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, where warm morning light fell across the alpine desert flora on the walk down to a stream. Rachael understands this spot has since been damaged by fire, making the painting a quiet record of how it was.
Unframed soft pastel on pastel mat, prepared for framing on backing board with mat. Overall size 500mm wide × 405mm high (65mm mat per side).
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