Jules Kesby

The idea of creating pieces in celebration of the wild and varied beauty of animals has evolved into a journey… My art is a way for me to communicate without the need for words.

Jules Kesby is a fine artist known for her incredibly detailed and realistic wildlife paintings. Jules is originally from Zimbabwe, is now based in Auckland, and is especially known for her incredible oil paintings of African animals.

Painting exclusively in oils, Jules is a mid-career artist and is self-taught. She paints with an almost photographic clarity combined with a painter’s understanding of glowing light, brush strokes, and atmospheric abstract backgrounds and wide landscape vistas.

I have always had a fascination with the natural world. Detail is important, and it gives me a view into the rhythm of nature so that I can build a relationship with the subject and get a glimpse into their character. It takes time to get to know them, which is why oil paints suit my process. The goal is to be more than merely a representation, and this takes gradual layers of paint. With a gentle coaxing, a conversation is begun, a story begins to unfold.

Jules has lived in New Zealand for over 15 years now. She is passionate about wildlife conservation, and this love and care for nature comes through in her work. Her paintings are rated highly by national and international wildlife and nature photographers. Jules is available for commission work.

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.