Let me introduce myself. I’m Roly Hermans, an artist based in Paraparaumu, New Zealand. I specialise in painting historical transport scenes: old ships, planes, trains and vehicles. Yep, that’s a fairly niche subject area, I know … but it’s what I enjoy painting!
And hopefully you’ll enjoy exploring my site too. You can read my latest posts (below), discover more about me, view a gallery of my art, see where I’ve exhibited, learn how to buy prints of my paintings, and find out where to contact me.
My Latest Posts
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- Painting a stagecoach … yet again!
A Cobb & Co stagecoach travels along the so-called ‘beach road’ near Paraparaumu some time during the 1860s, with Kapiti Island silhouetted in the distance. I did this painting as a test-run of my new water-mixable oil paints. As I mentioned in my previous … Continue reading - Painting a sailing ship … in water-mixable oils
This sailing ship is my first oil painting for over 50 years! A while ago whilst tidying-up I found a posting tube containing a rolled up sheet of canvas-textured paper. I carefully unrolled it, and there it was – the only oil painting I’d … Continue reading - Making a model of the ‘Cutty Sark’ (part 2)
As I mentioned in my previous post about this project, I’ve taken a short detour from painting maritime pictures by building this large plastic model of the tea clipper ‘Cutty Sark’. It was quite a challenge, but I’ve now completed it. I’m quite pleased … Continue reading - Painting a BK117 rescue helicopter
Update 20 Feb: You can now make silent bids for this original painting to raise funds for the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter. It is also available to buy as cards. Contact Claire Wilson for info: [email protected] I recently completed this painting of the Hawke’s … Continue reading - Painting the ‘Fighting Temeraire’ (children’s version!)
My latest painting is a bit different, to say the least! It’s a toy paddle steamer towing a large old-fashioned warship against a vivid sky. When my first grandson was born a couple of years ago, I painted him this picture of an oversized … Continue reading - Making a model of the ‘Cutty Sark’
A pause in my painting schedule, as I work on a 1:96 scale model of the famous clipper ‘Cutty Sark’. Whilst visiting local art studios during the recent Kapiti Coast Arts Trail, I happened to mention to one of the artists that I was … Continue reading - 2025 in review
At the end of each year I count up the number of paintings I’ve done, and the exhibitions I’ve taken part in. I also list some of the highlights of the year. And I finish with some New Year resolutions. I’m not sure if … Continue reading - Painting the ‘Endeavour’ … again
My latest painting depicts the ‘Endeavour’ anchored off Cooks Beach in Mercury Bay, New Zealand, in November 1769. Fine art prints of this painting are available from Art Collective. I am also willing to sell the original painting itself. The ‘Endeavour’, of course, was … Continue reading - Painting the Wellington tugs ‘Ngahue’ and ‘Toia’
My latest painting brings me back to a subject I started my painting ‘career’ with back in 2022: Wellington’s tugboats. I’ve depicted the tugs ‘Ngahue’ (left) and ‘Toia’ (right) on a gusty grey day, battling across the choppy harbour towards the Wellington wharves some … Continue reading - I’m now in the Australian Society of Marine Artists
I’ve just been accepted for ‘Exhibiting Member’ status by the Australian Society of Marine Artists – ASMA after submitting a portfolio of my art to their selection panel. ASMA not only promotes marine and maritime art in Australia, but also covers New Zealand as … Continue reading - My painting features on Art Trail poster
I’m stoked that the Kāpiti Gallery in Raumati has chosen my painting of a schooner for their Kāpiti Coast Art Trail poster. This year I’m taking part in the Kāpiti Gallery’s shared exhibition, rather than setting up my own little gallery at home as I … Continue reading - Some of my art in Coastlands exhibition
Five of my paintings are included in the Kapiti Arts & Crafts Society’s Oils and Acrylics exhibition at Coastlands Mall in Paraparaumu. The exhibition also includes lots of artworks by my fellow club members, demonstrating a wide range of styles and subjects. It’s on … Continue reading - My police paintings donated to the NZ Police Museum
On 9 October I officially presented the New Zealand Police Museum at Porirua with all seven of my police paintings. These original artworks include six pictures depicting the history of New Zealad’s police vehicles. The remaining painting is of Wellington’s police boat. You can … Continue reading - Painting the MV ‘Foxton’ at Foxton
My latest painting depicts the motor vessel ‘Foxton’ departing the former port of Foxton on the Manawatu River early one morning in about 1939. She was a wooden coastal ship built in Auckland in 1929 for the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company to use on … Continue reading - Painting the topsail schooner ‘Windborne’
My latest painting is of the beautiful schooner ‘Windborne’ in Mercury Bay on the Coromandel, with the distinctive Mount Maungatawhiri in the background. The pohutukawa tree in full bloom indicates this is a summer’s day round Christmas-time. The large trapezoidal sail between the fore … Continue reading - Making your own art book
As an amateur artist, my excitement at selling one of my paintings is often tempered by sadness at losing the ability to view it whenever I want. Not to mention no longer being able to show it off to my friends, nor for my … Continue reading - What, some AI art I actually like?!
Like many artists, I detest so-called ‘AI art’, and the way it steals from the creativity of real artists, either directly or through infesting once-useful social media art sites. Not to mention the impact on real artists’ jobs and livelihoods. So now I find … Continue reading - My ‘sailing ships’ series
I enjoy painting old sailing ships. These majestic vessels, with their towering masts, billowing sails and intricate rigging, offer endless opportunities for detail and drama. It’s fun trying to recreate the subtle textures of weathered wood, the shimmer of sunlight on ocean waves, and … Continue reading - My ‘history of New Zealand police cars’ series
Being a former police officer, I had the idea of painting a series of pictures depicting the development of New Zealand police cars through the years. Over the last couple of years I’ve completed six such paintings (plus one ‘kind-of’ extra, that you can … Continue reading - Exhibiting in the Paekākāriki Art ShowThe Paekākāriki Art Show is a major fundraiser for St Peter’s Village Hall in Paekākāriki, and has become a must-see event on the local cultural calendar. Now in its ninth year, the 2025 show featured 70 established and emerging artists from round the lower … Continue reading
- Painting an Ab class locomotive at Pukerua Bay
This painting was inspired by a 1930s picture from the ‘NZ Railways Magazine’, which I found on the Transpress NZ website. The photo showed a steam locomotive descending from Pukerua Bay with the Napier Express. It was taken before the Centennial Highway was built … Continue reading - Painting two Dutch houses
My neighbour here in New Zealand, like me, is of Dutch parentage. She asked me recently if I could paint a picture of each of her parents’ childhood homes. She provided me with various old photographs to work off, and we had discussions about … Continue reading - My first solo art exhibition
My first solo art exhibition opened yesterday in the Paraparaumu Library’s community art space. Entitled ‘Transport Art’, the show displays my paintings and prints of ships, planes, trains and other vehicles. I was particularly asked by the art space convenor to include a display … Continue reading - Announcing my first solo exhibition
I’m excited to announce my first-ever solo art exhibition. It’ll feature my paintings of historical transport: ships, planes, trains and other vehicles. The exhibition will take place from 4-23 January in the Roderick & Gillian Deane Art Space in the Paraparaumu Library, Paraparaumu, New … Continue reading - Round-up of my paintings and exhibitions during 2024
It’s that time of the year when we count up our efforts over the last twelve months – and hopefully get a pleasant surprise at how prolific we’ve been! Whilst this year I didn’t quite achieve the same total of 16 paintings as I … Continue reading
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ROLY'S ART 