Meet the most inspirational artist and illustrator who, at 70 years young, is celebrating the next generation of talent. Creating a public art space, Three Eyes Gallery, in her gorgeous but remote Breaker Bay house, Editor Trudi Brewer shares her sanctuary on the rugged but beautiful western side of Wellington Harbour. It’s a home and homage to her late partner, artist Scott Kennedy.

Donna Cross is phenomenal. She is a septuagenarian who loves nothing more than playing loud rap music (she loves all music genres) in her beautifully curated home, which houses a collection of work that spans 50 years. Much of it from her late partner Scott Kennedy; there is a spot for everything in Cross’s haven. Every glass, cup, plate, garden tool, and meticulously stacked firewood has a place. Every room is decorated with the most incredible collection of memories, from Kennedy’s work as a prolific artist and collector of books and quirky toys to her creations as a career illustrator. On the day we visited Breaker Bay, it was bitterly cold, and that southerly wind was biting, but once inside, with the fire roaring, Cross took us on a journey of discovery. Each room is a treasure trove of creative genius, a tribute to a life of love. Every step with a smile, every item thoughtfully displayed. Here, she shares her magnificent career, a life well spent immersed in art and filled with happiness, sorrow, and what looks like new beginnings. Read on to learn more.

Career

How did you become an illustrator/artist?

The living space in Cross’s Breaker Bay

As a girl growing up on a dairy farm in South Wairarapa in the 50s and 60s, the highlight of my week was getting Jackie Magazine. I loved the illustrations and fashions and was always drawing my versions. I heard about the Wellington School of Design in the seventh form. I applied and managed to get into textile design. I soon realised that I would prefer to be in the graphic design department, where I could be more focused on drawing and illustration, not just fashion illustration. In 1979, I moved to Sydney and worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines like Dolly, Cleo, and Women’s Weekly - whoever would give me work. Later on, in the 80s, I was represented by an illustrator’s agent. I started to get commissions for graphic design companies and advertising, along with keeping the clients I already had, like the Sydney Morning Herald. My partner, Scott Kennedy, and I met at the design school. He was also an illustrator. We moved back to Wellington in 1987 and managed to make a living from illustration until Scott died in 2013.

What projects do you prefer to work on now?

I still do a little illustration, but my main obsession is working on designing photographic books, mainly for talented friends, and I have loved designing wedding books for my nieces and nephews. However, the gallery keeps me busy curating the shows, updating the website, and designing invitations and posters. Also, having visitors to the gallery. I also love my garden and have put a lot of work into it over the last few years. A big learning curve as Scott and I ignored our garden for years. I lost the love for illustrating when Scott got sick. It is very stressful creating something when too much is going on in your life. When I stop searching for other people’s projects, I will do more personal work one day and perhaps have an exhibition at my gallery.

Cross’s home office and top floor of her Breaker Bay home

Who has inspired you in your career?

Scott and I used to buy Illustrator Annuals yearly to keep updated with overseas trends. I don’t think I was ever inspired by a single person but by illustrators who made the thought process and technique come together, so it could only be done by them. I have not kept up with what is happening now. I know an illustration I recently did was rejected for something cobbled together using AI.

How do you come up with concepts and designs for each project?

There is no set way. I always try to please a client without sacrificing what I can do for a project. It always comes back to the brief and how to make it as unique as possible for that client. Sometimes, the first idea is the best and other times, it is a to-and-fro with the client to get the best outcome. I listen and think.

Her perfectly curated collection is evident in every room

Why did you open a gallery at home?

Scott was an artist and an illustrator. He wanted me to control how his work was represented, so it made sense to use my home space to have a gallery. The Three Eyes Gallery is where Scott once had his painting studio.

What kind of work do you like to show?

I like to have shows where the artist has something I feel is not an imitation of someone else’s work. Everyone is inspired by what they have previously seen, but there is a fine line between inspiration and imitation. I like to have a strong concept behind the work. I want each exhibition to be in a completely different style from the previous one. I have had painting, ceramics, sculpture, photographs, jewellery, collages, and interactive activities. The list goes on.

What is most rewarding about this venture?

This has never meant to be a commercial venture. I want the gallery to successfully give the artists a venue to display their art in a beautiful space. So far, all the artists I have shown are interesting, lovely people. I am so lucky to share some time with them.

What has been the most challenging part of opening a gallery?

Because this is a house in a relatively isolated part of Wellington, it is hard to get people to feel comfortable just dropping in. Because the gallery is at the back of the house, many people think it is just what they can see in the front, so they look but don’t ring the bell to come and see what they are missing out on. I am lucky that I don’t have overheads that other galleries have. Any sales from the gallery go into the artists’ account, and at the end of the exhibition, I send them an invoice for 10 per cent of sales.

How do you define the success of an artist?

I think if they stay true to how they want their work to be rather than compromise.

Three Eyes Gallery at Breaker Bay

Home

Why did you choose to live in Breaker Bay?

After living in Sydney for eight years, I wanted something less claustrophobic. The wild beauty of this place struck us. It was affordable then, and most of our friends lived in the Eastern suburbs. It feels like another world, but it is only 15 minutes into the city.

How would you describe your home?

We designed our house in the late 1980s, which was very much honed to how we wanted to live. We both worked from home, so we built our house, which had to be affordable and practical. Luckily, we both liked modernism.

What do you think makes a great interior style?

Every home should reflect its owner's style. Just because my house looks as it does does not mean I don’t appreciate completely different homes. It brings things together that have meaning to your life and are placed thoughtfully to bring you joy. Every wall in your home is a gallery with incredible art and decor.

‘Love Rules’ in Cross’s Breaker Bay home

How did you select the pieces to complement each other?

The art is mainly Scott’s and friends. The first thing is to love each piece you live with. There are other paintings of Scott’s that I love but don’t work proportionately or colourwise with the walls I have. In one case, I loved the triptych in the dining room, but it did not have a wall big enough for it. I had the chance to add 1.5 metres onto the front of the house nine years ago, so the piece fits into the space perfectly now. I have two frames that I got the framer to make for me so I could change out the same-sized paintings to give a bit of a rotation. Some of the pieces I have are from the eighties and early nineties. The sofas I got about six years ago. I always knew I wanted orange and green wool sofas. Unfortunately, the sun is fading them, especially the green one, which gets more light. I found the designs online and got them through an interior designer friend. I also chose a fabric different from the one usually used for sofas.

What’s your most treasured possession?

My Mother bought me my watch when she and my sisters were in Switzerland to replace a watch I lost on the day that I knew that Dad was dying of cancer. It is extraordinary that, against all odds, I loved the watch.

The dinning and kitchen area

What’s your favourite room in your home?

This is like asking a parent which is their favourite child. I love and use every room in the house, and the transitional spaces are also important.

You are a collector; what are your most loved pieces?

I don’t think I am a collector. I think I am a curator. I take a lot of care when making purchases. I try to buy responsibly by keeping most things I buy. Everything I have means something to me, even a rubbish tin! I do love all my things, but people are more important. I give away things I still love but have no place to use or store them. Friends and relatives are the recipients of these.

What do you love most about your life?

I have amazing friends and family and feel part of the Breaker Bay community. I don’t drive, so I do a lot of walking, so it's fortunate I live in an incredibly beautiful and ever-changing place. I love discovering new music and adding it to my very long playlists. Music is an essential part of my life. I love meeting new people who come to the gallery. I love that I never know exactly what the day will bring.