Michael McHugh is a painter born in New Zealand and living in Australia. He has drawn and painted since childhood and has won acclaim for his colorful and joyous nature-based paintings. Exhibitions of his paintings sell out quickly. McHugh's work reflects the deep connection he feels with the natural world. Growing up he spent many hours gardening with his father, going for nature walks, and exploring on the beach. All of this gave him an early appreciation of the natural world. At times in his life now, returning to nature has calmed and heightened his senses, providing a haven in which the artist can lose himself. Michael McHugh's paintings not only celebrate the brilliance of nature, they also provide entry to an imaginative world where the artist can reconfigure natural forms, both terrestrial and marine. McHugh paints principally in acrylics, finding the medium more responsive to his multi-layered approach than oil paint. His work is detailed in the extreme. He returns to a painting several times to create ever-finer details. His unique and celebrated images bear no comparison with so-called "similar" works often shown as comparisons. Widely admired in Australasia, his work is becoming better. known in Europe and the United States. His paintings will be the subject of an exhibition in London, England in 2025. "I want my paintings to bring the viewer joy, to smile," the artist states. "To forget everything else that’s happening for a moment, let’s just be happy."