Surfer and artist Jim Mitchell is excited to combine his two great passions – surfing and art – at the upcoming Hot Off the Press art exhibition.

The exhibition, set to take place at Wharfside Port Ōhope, coincides with the annual West End Wiggle longboard surfing competition, making it a must-see for both surf enthusiasts and art lovers alike.

Originally from Murupara and now residing in Ōpōtiki, Mitchell has lived a colourful life, growing up in Kawerau, working in Australia, and immersing himself in the world of surf culture.

The Hot Off the Press exhibition will showcase four of his archival digital prints, all drawn from a series of paintings he created back in 2005. These paintings were inspired by photographs of legendary surfers, including Fred Hemming surfing the first manmade wave park in Tempe, Arizona; Sam Hawk riding the waves at Rocky Point, Hawaii; a young Donald Takayama captured in a black-and-white photo; and the Aussie surf master Pete (PT) Townend.

"I must have had great eyesight 20 years ago because the originals are very small – I use much bigger brushes now," Mitchell jokes.

Mitchell is thrilled to be showcasing the works on his home turf.

Growing up in a forestry town, Mitchell didn't have the natural environment one might expect for a surf artist, but that didn’t stop him and his friends from obsessing over the sport.

“We would head to the beach whenever we could. I learned to surf at Ōhiwa Beach and West End on my brother’s old longboards, and it was there I met Tony Ogilvy, a surfer who worked in the art and marketing department at Riverslea, Edgecumbe.

Ogilvy became a key mentor for Mitchell, encouraging him to pursue his passion for art. Mitchell went on to study at Wellington Polytech (now known as the Wellington Institute of Technology), completing a Visual Arts & Design course. From there, his career took him to Australia, where he worked as a freelance illustrator before landing a job at Mambo Graphics, a surf brand that blended art with surf culture.

Fourteen years later, Mitchell co-founded The Critical Slide Society, a surf-inspired brand based in Bondi, Australia, alongside his wife Suzie and another partner.

“It was a label built around surf art and humour. You could say I’m single-minded,” Mitchell said.

After 40 years away, Mitchell and his family felt the pull to return to New Zealand and settled in Ōpōtiki in 2021.

“It’s been the best move ever,” he said.

Mitchell is focusing on a new series of paintings that celebrate Ōpōtiki – the people, the architecture, the horses.

“I’m happy to be back amongst whānau, painting full time, and look forward to completing the circle by surfing West End with my old friend Tony.”

Hot off the Press opens on Friday, April 11.

What: Hot Off the Press

When:  Friday, April 11-Sunday, April 13

Where: Wharfside, Port Ōhope