Deborah Harris
ARTIST, TRANSFORMATIONAL ART THERAPIST & ART TEACHER
SENSING COLOUR Studio/Gallery
“Colour is not something I see; it is something I sense. It is the language through which light and darkness and there interactions, emotion and spirit become visible.”
My Mission
My mission is to preserve and share the profound understanding of colour developed through the work of Rudolf Steiner and Liane Collot d'Herbois. Through teaching, art therapy, and painting, I help others experience colour not simply as something we see, but as a living force that can restore balance, deepen self-awareness, and enrich life. Connect.
Services
One on one sessions, small groups.
* Anthroposophical Art Therapy – Individual sessions using colour, charcoal, and artistic processes to support emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
* Veil Painting Classes & Workshops – Learn the gentle art of veil painting inspired by the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Liane Collot d'Herbois. Suitable for beginners through to advanced practitioners.
* Professional Art Therapy Training – A comprehensive training programme for artists, therapists, teachers, and those wishing to deepen their understanding of anthroposophical colour and art therapy.
* Colour Therapy & Consultations – Personalised guidance using the therapeutic qualities of colour to support balance, self-awareness, and personal development.
* Charcoal Light and Darkness Workshops – Explore the twelve Light and Darkness exercises that develop observation, artistic skill, and a deeper understanding of form and movement.
* Retreats & Immersive Workshops – Multi-day experiences that combine painting, colour studies, meditation, and nature to encourage inner renewal and creative growth.
* Original Artwork – Original veil paintings, charcoal drawings, and pastel works available for purchase, created to bring beauty, harmony, and inspiration into homes and healing spaces.
* Greeting Cards & Gifts – A collection of fine art cards and thoughtfully created gift items inspired by flowers, crystals, butterflies, and the healing qualities of colour.
* Speaking & Presentations – Educational talks and presentations on anthroposophical art therapy, colour, creativity, and holistic wellbeing.
Products
My collection features original veil paintings, charcoal and pastel artworks, limited edition prints, fine art greeting cards, oracle and affirmation card decks, and creative resources developed through my work as an anthroposophical art therapist and artist. Inspired by colour, flowers, crystals, butterflies, and the rhythms of nature, each piece is designed to encourage reflection, uplift the spirit, and bring warmth and beauty into the lives of those who experience it.
Location
Peka Peka, Waikanae
My Story
My professional journey began in natural beauty therapy, where I built and managed several successful businesses. Among them was New Zealand's first Day Spa to offer complete top-to-toe treatments and full day spa packages—an innovative concept at the time. While I loved creating nurturing experiences for clients, I felt drawn to work that supported healing on a deeper level. This led me to retrain as an anthroposophical art therapist, a path I have now followed for over 27 years.
Deborah is an accomplished artist of 26 years based in Peka Peka with extensive global reach and experience, whose contemplative works bridge the realms of light, darkness, and colour, offering viewers a meditative journey into the soul. Trained in Anthroposophical Art and Therapy, her practice involves veil painting, pastel, and charcoal techniques that layers weaving luminous hues to evoke harmony and spiritual reflection.
Deborah offers bespoke commissions, meditation cards, and transformative art therapy sessions from her home studio-gallery, inviting others to experience art as a healing and awakening force.
Contact
Phone : 021 979 268
Email : sensingcolour@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sensingcolourstudio
Gallery
Testimonials
“I have attended several of Deborah’s veil painting courses, as well as completed one-to-one art therapy sessions with her. In addition, my daughter and my partner have also had multiple sessions with Deborah. All three of us experience Deborah has a highly attuned and sensitive practitioner. She has a gentle and accepting approach to her sessions, which creates a sense of safety. An additional strength is that she brings a pragmatic style of interacting with people’s challenges, which is validating without entrapping people in conversations that they might not want to have. In fact, Deborah is clearly intuitive and suggests directions for people’s art which is therapeutically effective. Sometimes, it is unclear to me how what she does works, and yet it is very obvious that it does work. Deborah holds good boundaries. My role is an academic at Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka. As an academic, I appreciate that Deborah couples her intuitive approach with academic rigour. When talking with her about colour, I can see that she has a sound theoretical basis to what she is doing. I cannot praise her work enough.”
“I have had the privilege of knowing Deborah Harris for several years now in both a professional and personal capacity. Her knowledge, skill set and intuitive approach enables her to connect deeply while working with individuals and groups. As an Art Therapist, Deborah creates a safe and nurturing environment for her practice, where clients feel well supported and cared for on their journey. Her dedication along with her empathetic and insightful nature, makes her an invaluable resource for anyone seeking personal growth.”
“I loved working with Deborah - it was fun, revealing, interesting, and, for someone with an insecurity about my ability to express anything visually, quite healing. The simplicity of working with charcoal - no colours to worry about! - was liberating. I particularly enjoyed how I quickly came to relax into a freer form of expression, with little self-judgement. Deborah so helped with this - she was only supportive and encouraging, making useful and perceptive observations and occasional welcome suggestions. I learned so much in my time with her. She’s a wonderful teacher, with a sensitive, caring and attentive style, and I would recommend her to anyone wanting to explore themselves and their expression. Mostly tellingly, I found myself looking forward to it each week!”
