Annette ISBEY Obituary

I had some great visits to Annette's home & studio, in Grey Lynn , we'd talk in between, watching her paint. .about her strategy to save these big pine trees that dominated her Valley, above the Zoo, and in Western Springs, as Annette knew me through Bronwyn, at the time, a gardener to Annette, and Sarah (Hillary) , I was Bron's boyfriend, we'd met at her yoga classes , and my walking in the Waitakere Ranges , both adult community classes through Selwyn College. I recall meeting Annette that first time, washing paint brushes , while sipping on a cup of tea..Bron always chatty, like me, we often listened to Annette's stories too, in her studio, which hung many unfinished paintings, and some that were as she said, not good enough, despite being finished in my naive eyes, I can't even draw a dog, Bron would say.. Needless to say I was witnessing the presence of a famous artist at her home, and inside a few times, Annette would drift her thoughts away, and talk about the weather, in a way, that gave me , an interesting perspective on how she would see the clouds, always moving she'd say..I can't paint them all. I often thought she was saying in those moments. As she knew Bron and I , shared her own love with nature and the great outdoors, our common ground in the few conversations, I'd get to hear , in my brief visits to meet Bron, after her gardening jobs were done .and off we would walk down that track at the end of Annette's road..those very tall pine trees swaying in the breeze.
I'm extremely fortunate to have Annette's, Poetic Vision, art book, with her message inside from no doubt is her frail written words...saying " To Stephen from Annette Isbey..16.12.13".

A rare and precious thing, now gone, like those fallen pine trees, gone but not forgotten. resting in peace, between the skies and the landscape of my heart..Thank you Annette,' I will put the jug on, shall I '..

I am very lucky to own a large and very beautiful painting of Annette's bought from Brooker Gallery in Wellington.

I am even more lucky to have had one delightfully memorable phone conversation with her. At the closing of this cherished
chat she invited me to visit her and I am sad to say I never did.

I moved to Gisborne for a time and bought a beautiful original villa with a very wide central hall. At the end of the hall her glorious huge painting greeted visitors.

When I returned to Auckland many years later it was for my Korean grandson's piano recital. I think Annette was still alive then. As luck would have it I became ill and visited noone.

Tonight I looked her up, as I do periodically and was saddened to see she died in 2022.

One phone call cemented this beautiful memory of a woman who was talented, outgoing, fun, creative, kind and generous. She was, and remains a legend to me.

Dear Annette - an inspiring woman and a great friend of the Michael King Writers Centre.
I once had a wonderful visit to her home and studio with Christine Cole Catley. The stories shared of lives well lived were great to hear.
Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

An extraordinary Kuia, kaiako, activist, matriarch, friend and neighbour in our West View Road village. She gave me personally, a link to my tupuna and whakapapa through Judith Binney's book about Thomas Kendall and my family treasure this and will into our futures. I have and will continue to miss my visits to her in her home and studio. My heartfelt condolences to her much beloved tamariki and mokopuna.

We share our sympathy with a special memory of Annette upon her passing. Our condolences we send to the Isbey Family!

I was eleven years old when my family made a visit to Auckland, New Zealand in the 1950's to meet Annette, her Husband Eddie and their children and the rest of the Isbey Clan - (Grandma Leah, Uncle Sam, Dave, Polly, their wives, husbands and children).

It was delightful to have met Annette. I will always remember her lovely manner and her fine artwork depicting New Zealand's Edenic landscapes, and Maori portraits. Good Health to everyone !!!