About

Steve Dunlop is a New Zealand graphic artist whose creative career began after completing a three-year ATI graphic design diploma. He first worked as a freelance designer before an opportunity on New York’s Madison Avenue led him into the advertising world as a Senior Art Director. After five years in New York, Steve returned to New Zealand with a broadened creative perspective and a deep understanding of brand, illustration and visual storytelling.

Back home, Steve founded Creative Juice, an advertising agency he led for 16 years as Owner and Art Director. With offices across New Zealand and Australia and a team of more than 20 people, Creative Juice grew under Steve’s creative direction and established a strong reputation for brand development, graphic design and commercial art.

Alongside his advertising career, Steve continued to explore illustration and fine art. He designed and illustrated several children’s books, including colouring books for NZ Forest & Bird, with proceeds donated to causes he cared about.

A serious accident later resulted in a debilitating shoulder injury and ongoing nerve pain. While facing a long wait for surgery, Steve began exploring alternative ways to manage his pain and returned to the drawing and painting he had loved since childhood. The process offered focus, relief and a renewed creative purpose, eventually reducing his reliance on medication.

Today, Steve’s work draws inspiration from Māori artefacts and the visual traditions he first studied during his design school thesis. His paintings reflect a long-standing respect for Māori art forms, including carving, weaving and tā moko, and the cultural stories, craftsmanship and symbolism they carry.

Through his work, Steve continues to bring together design discipline, illustration skill and fine art realism, creating pieces that reflect history, heritage and the enduring power of handmade creative practice.