[Team Opus] Amethyst Dawn, Opus Shop Superstar, Tattooist, Artist, Mountain Gem

Some people like to bless their gems, but in a reverse case here at Opus, we have been blessed by a gem, and her name is Amethyst. 

Originally from Picton, Amethyst has traveled around the country quite a bit. In more recent years, she spent eight months living the van life. Her passion is art, which is deeply inspired by nature. She doesn't just love it—she lives it. Traveling in her four-wheeled home allowed her to draw even more inspiration from the world around her. What better place for her to land than a rural area surrounded by forests, rivers, and mountains?

Through fate—or sheer luck—she had a chance meeting with Janelle, who had been searching for an artist to bring her vision of a Kiwi version of the classic sailor swallow tattoo to life as a print for their pop tops. When Janelle spotted a Pīwakawaka tattoo on Amethyst’s shoulder, she was amazed to learn that not only was it Amethyst’s own design, but she had also tattooed it on herself. From this serendipitous meeting, the Opus/Amethyst collaboration was born.

Amethyst quickly slotted into the Opus team, bringing with her a calm, positive energy. When it comes to trying new things, she’s an absolute weapon. She threw herself into self-taught lessons in snowboarding during the winter, and after a few gnarly falls and injuries, she is proud of the progress she’s made. In her spare time, she has also taken up spray painting and woodburning by hand. Art drives her, and she views life itself as a form of art—“It’s a human trait,” she says.

It didn’t take long for the newcomer to fall in love with the area. When asked what she likes most, she said, “The community. It’s so welcoming, especially for a small town.” Amethyst has now perfected her self-taught sewing skills with the help of Janelle and Amy. You can often find her either making garments or serving up hot brews at the counter. The collaboration between Opus and Amethyst continues to grow, with a new Tūī design added to the mix and more to come.

Amethyst is also a talented tattoo artist, specializing in beautiful fine line designs for her clients. Is there anything she can’t do? She has some great advice for aspiring artists: “Practice, practice, practice. The more you draw, the more you develop. Even doing one bad drawing a day is better than doing just one good drawing a month.”

The Amethyst gem was once reserved only for royalty, and we can certainly see why. We’re thrilled to have her on board at Opus. Her creative flair and positive energy are the perfect fit.

Follow some of her work here: Amethyst Dawn Art

Check out the Opus x Amethyst Dawn collaborations here: Amethyst Dawn x Opus Fresh