Based in Titahi Bay, Porirua, Davey McGhie is a sculptor and art educator whose practice spans stone, wood, steel and mixed media. Significantly self-taught, he went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art at Elam, University of Auckland, as well as a Diploma of Secondary Teaching. Over the years, he has shared his passion for creativity through teaching in schools, colleges, polytechnics and community programmes.
Davey describes his evolving visual language as “bold, chunky, elegant, sensitive with reverence to the materials I’m creating with – a dance of life that mirrors all my dreams, joys, anxieties and spirituality.” His work is rooted in warmth, humour and a deep respect for the materials he transforms.
He has exhibited widely and taken part in major national events including the Te Kupenga International Stone Sculpture Symposium and the Lakehouse Arts Centre Sculpture Symposium in Auckland. His public works include Waterstone (Kairuru marble) at Titahi Bay Intermediate, Elements Stone (Oamaru limestone) at Aotea Lagoon, and Birdwoman (macrocapa) at Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua.
Quoting poet John O’Donohue, Davey seeks to “reach beyond imitation… deep into the call of all the unfinished and unsolved,” a philosophy that continues to shape his creative journey.
About the Artwork – Light Shields
The concept for Light Shields has been evolving for more than a decade. The earliest version combined steel, papier-mâché and tar paint, and was exhibited in a regional group show at the Wellington City Art Gallery. Later, Davey explored the idea further using plywood wrapped in aluminium foil, installing the work out in the ocean at his home in Titahi Bay. “A creative force that knows no bounds was established with the design on that day,” he recalls.
In 2022, his vision came to new life at the Lakehouse Sculpture Symposium in Takapuna, Auckland, where a stainless steel Light Shield mounted on a retro aluminium gearbox and designed to spin won the prize for innovative sculpture.
Crafted from stainless steel – a material chosen for its beauty, durability, and resistance to rust – Light Shields reflects both the artist’s long-standing fascination with light and movement, and his commitment to creating works that endure. Versions that incorporate the spinning element are also available by special commission, extending the sense of play and dynamism at the heart of the design.
Art by the River is a contemporary Whanganui fine art gallery, opened in December 2024. The gallery features a mix of emerging and established New Zealand artists, alongside an exclusive fine art Collectables selection of New Zealand fine art prints. As an art dealer and collector, we include rare and sought-after artworks by internationally recognised artists such as Gretchen Albrecht, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Ralph Hotere and Andy Warhol. We are committed to supporting NZ artists through a regular art exhibition in-house, connecting both NZ and international art collectors with meaningful artwork, and contributing to Whanganui's vibrant cultural landscape.
