Waikato upbringing provides inspiration for Erin Simpson’s artwork

Waikato-born Erin Simpson is a woman of many creative talents as a TV personality, singer, artist and homeware designer to name a few.

She rose to fame as the host of The Erin Simpson Show which produced 770 episodes, making her a recognised face and name throughout the country.

Currently, Erin is using her upbringing in the Waikato as inspiration for artwork on her homeware product designs, which she sells on her website and in 120 stores nationwide. 

Products include clocks, cushions, magnets, tote bags, framed prints, wooden cutouts and more. They feature motif designs such as native birds that Erin has drawn.

“I feel really strongly about New Zealand’s native birds and the meanings behind them. They all remind me of family members so whenever I draw them I associate them to family members who have those same types of characteristics. It brings those thought processes into the designs,” Erin said.

Over the years, she would draw pictures when travelling to calm her overactive mind and channel her thoughts in to a creative outlet. She ended up with a collection of drawings and decided to source New Zealand made products to print her artwork on to. This lead to her website being launched two years ago.

She discovered her love of drawing as a child and art was a top subject throughout her school years.

“I really appreciated growing up in the country and I put a lot of my creativeness down to growing up on the farm in the middle of nowhere, because my brother and I had to make our own fun,” Erin said.

“It is something that we still carry through with us today, we’re still always thinking of things to do – I’m always thinking of projects and things to do for work.”

Growing up, Erin was quite shy, and she had a huge passion for art and singing. It was singing that eventually led her to the stage.

She went to opera school, before getting accepted into the National Musical Theatre School, based on her singing. It was there that she learnt the art of acting which brought out her confidence and she has never looked back.

Aside from her homeware business keeping her busy, she is also currently the host of Red Carpet New Zealand, an online programme available on TVNZ On Demand.

“It’s been a really cool adventure and it’s kept me busy as we get to cover a lot of events each week throughout New Zealand,” Erin said.

Her partner Zac Franich, former Bachelor TV star, has just finished his time on Dancing With The Stars NZ, so the duo are currently now looking to “sink their teeth” into doing something together.

Her career highlight so far is, and always will be, The Erin Simpson Show, which she filmed over a five-year period and sang the theme song for the show.

“It was the first show in New Zealand to be named after a woman, which was amazing. The things we achieved from what started as a little idea, it was incredible,” Erin said.

“I knew it was the best time while I was doing it, which I’m quite proud of as I don’t look back and think that was so much fun because I knew it was fun while I was in those moments. It made it even cooler because I was so present, and I loved every minute of it.”

She says even now, years on, people still approach her and remember her from the time on her own television show.

“The fact that I was able to become everybody’s mate through a TV screen is pretty cool. I got to make friends with the whole country.”

Erin’s dairy farmer parents always encouraged her to strive for her dreams. She didn’t want to follow anyone else’s path, she wanted to pave her on way in life. This was accomplished by experimenting and not being afraid to try new things.

“My parents always told me to give anything a go, such as if I played piano and I was terrible at it, mum would say ‘it’s okay because you’re learning, no-one is good when they first start something,” Erin said.

“They always said if it doesn’t work out then I can always go back home on the family dairy farm and milk cows – which I haven’t had to do yet, so I’ve been pulling it off so far,” she laughs.

So, what’s instore in the future for this Waikato-born creative – As Erin says, the sky’s the limit.

“My nana always said, reach for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground.”

While you're here, don't forget to search through the Waikato Story's Toolkit to see if there is anything you can use for your business!