Misunderstood vikings who were not really after gold and booty but a good fish and chip shop are part of an exhibition running at the Thames Art Gallery in Tararu this month.
Paul Heffernan, otherwise known as Mr Heff, is the featured artist for October at the gallery in Tararu, and he creates wacky and whimsical characters from clay while his wife Kathy applies their colourful glazes.
Each piece comes with a small story and he hopes his work gives folk “a wee chuckle and a smile” as they explore the detailed pieces.
The exhibition features large “Dragons of Mirth” like Esmeralda, and smaller versions like Kerfuffle.
Misunderstood vikings searching for a good fish and chip shop are also part of the exhibition, as is a group of party pigs, including Felicity who believes the new health food is doughnuts.
Mr Heff calls his pieces “imagination boosters” and said grandparents and parents are often keen buyers of the wall hangings for children’s rooms.
He also writes and illustrates children’s stories which form part of the exhibition. He has picture books for five- to seven-year-olds and chapter books for older children.
His books are full of what he terms “Heff humour”.
Robert the Polar Bear is perhaps his most popular picture book, while The Last Dragon Family kicks off a series centred around bumbling knights who must save a princess from a dragon. The dragons are just not keen to take part.
He is currently writing The Pirates and the Treasure of Rat Island – with “oodles” of illustrations that will keep him occupied for several months.
DETAILS: You can preview Mr Heff’s work at www.mrheff.co.nz.
