21 February 2026
Harbour Hospice’s elegant new fundraiser, Art Affair, is returning in March with a line-up of 15 extraordinary artists. Among them is well-known interior designer Shanly Simpson, who grew up in Glenfield and attended Takapuna Grammar School.
The fundraiser, introduced in 2025, sees Harbour Hospice’s Warkworth site, Tui House, transformed into an art gallery. Art lovers are encouraged to make a day of it, says Harbour Hospice Fundraising & Business Development Specialist Emily Thomas, with hospice’s Garage Sale shop, next door, open all weekend, and tea and freshly-baked scones available on Sunday.
Shanly, now based in Mahurangi West, is best-known for working more than a decade with international interior designer, Faye Resnick. She has created spaces for lots of famous clients including Paris and Nicky Hilton – who she says were “the sweetest” - but only began pursuing art more recently, out of a frustration with her interior design work.
“Whenever I spoke with new clients, most wanted art for the walls. And I hit a real roadblock because I couldn’t find art that blended in with its environment,” she explains.
One day Shanly came home from work exhausted after another long day’s search. “I poured myself a vodka, pulled an old canvas off the wall and grabbed some of my paint samples... The client loved it, so my art has gone full on and it’s made my interior design job so much easier.”
Shanly has always enjoyed art and excelled in it at Takapuna Grammar, but after leaving school she headed overseas. A passion for antiques led to her working with Faye in Los Angeles, then on her return to New Zealand in 2012 she started her own business, Shanly Simpson Designs – the art eventually followed.
Most of her pieces represent nature and are intended to complement or complete a room.
When she was invited to exhibit in Art Affair, she said yes straight away. “Twenty-five years ago my father got cancer and was not meant to make it, but he did. Since then, charity work has become a huge part of my life. Hospice is there for people, and their families, at one of the toughest times in their lives.”
Art Affair will be held at Tui House, 47 Morrison Dr, Warkworth, on March 7 & 8 (10am-4pm). Tea and scones will be available for purchase on Sunday, 11am – 3pm.
For more info: https://harbourhospice.org.nz/event/art-affair/
This story was first published in the March 2026 issue of Channel Magazine.
