About Samwell

Tucked away in a weatherworn garage on the wild West Coast of New Zealand, Samwell Warren shapes more than just artworks—he captures the pulse of an entire landscape. Working from Greymouth, Samwell specialises in an unconventional fusion of reclaimed native timbers and high-gloss resin, creating striking mixed media pieces that echo the soul of Aotearoa’s most iconic terrains.

Each artwork is a visual journey—layered, tactile, and unmistakably rooted in place. From the scorched ridgelines of the Central Plateau to the sunlit coves of Abel Tasman, Samwell distils the essence of the land into fluid, abstract forms that seem both ancient and futuristic. His materials—rescued from forgotten sheds, wind-felled trees, and coastal drift—speak of stories embedded in the grain and captured beneath glassy surfaces like memories frozen in amber.

Samwell’s process is raw, intuitive, and deeply local. Made by hand, each piece is unique, much like the land that inspires them. His style defies categorisation, living somewhere between sculpture and topography, between salvage and alchemy. With every pour, carve, and polish, he reimagines what it means to see and feel a place—not just with the eyes, but with the hands and the heart.