Adding character and life to commercial spaces

13 Oct 2025

When Kelly ‘Kell Sunshine’ is on the job, walls become more than just flat surfaces we walk past. They become stories. And they create identity and uniqueness to public spaces. Kelly’s murals, painted in vivid Resene hues, fuse artistic clarity with thoughtful messaging, making them as impactful in small narrow streets as they are on large public buildings.

“My work is illustrative, lush, curvaceous, saturated, clean, bold and tender,” Kelly says. “It’s a kind of neo-animism. The lead characters mostly hail from the plant world, with messaging which speaks of my interest in ecology and interconnection.”

This mural, for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Dunedin Town Hall, is painted in Resene Teal Blue, Resene Canary, Resene Adrenalin, Resene Havoc and Resene Bubble White. This pattern on the left is by Aroha Novak, making this a stunning collab piece.

Kelly’s background in illustration and design lends itself well to murals that are visually striking while still carrying a sense of intimacy and story. Whether working on a council commission, a community project or a library wall, Kelly’s method is thoughtful and detailed. She starts her designs on her iPad after periods of what she calls “contemplation and day-dreaming.” Each palette is also fine-tuned. “I spend an unreasonable amount of time refining a palette for a job, every tone is meticulously selected.”

Inside Bailey, Nelson, this tropical mural brings a fresh, vibrant energy to an otherwise neutral space.

Resene paints are a staple in her work. Not only for their colour quality, but also for the service that supports larger scale outdoor projects. “The colours hold their own really well, there’s great variety in the available spectrums, and the staff across the country are always really great to deal with.”

One of her favourite works is The Three Sisters, painted for the South Sea Spray festival in Winton. It nods to the traditional agricultural technique of companion planting, with corn, beans and squash. “They support each other, they help each other grow,” she says. “Aesthetically, I really enjoy the movement of that piece, with the three mischievous elders peering through their golden harvest.”

Kelly’s favourite, The Three Sisters mural in Winton, is painted in Resene Green Pea, Resene Keppel, Resene Sunrise, Resene Deep Teal, Resene West Coast, Resene Hot Toddy, Resene Tulip Tree, Resene Pirate Gold, Resene Sunshade and Resene Tacao.

Kelly’s work thrives in public-facing spaces. Places that benefit from both visual impact and emotional resonance. Her work shows the true power and individuality that murals can bring to a commercial space as a way to make it stand out in its own right.

And she’s ready for the next challenge too. “I’d really like to work on some multi-faceted industrial and architectural projects. The kind of projects that have a variety of surfaces and corners, where I can wrap my work around a space across multiple levels.”

A fitting design for Jingles Hair Design in Hamilton features Resene Chilean Fire, Resene Sunshade, Resene Goblin, Resene Hopbush, Resene Whizz Bang and Resene Koru.

With a strong conceptual base and a skilful command of scale, colour and storytelling, Kelly’s work offers far more than aesthetic uplift. Her work creates memorable landmarks that resonate with their environments and the people who pass by them.

View more at www.kellsunshine.com or follow @kell.sunshine on Instagram.

Top tip: If you’re planning an outdoor mural, think about how to protect your work, or business’ façade long term. The Resene anti-graffiti coatings range can help by creating a tough surface barrier that makes it easier to clean off unwanted tags without damaging the artwork beneath. Choosing the right protective finish at the start not only keeps colours looking fresh but also helps murals remain vibrant landmarks in their communities for years to come.

Published: 13 Oct 2025