Meet the Team
About Irene
An intrepid traveller and someone who lives life to the fullest, Irene Sunup is the business brains (and heart) behind Naturescapes. As Director and Founder of the atelier, she has been instrumental in realising concept and vision into tangible form, ensuring that finances and operations run smoothly. Although she has a business background, her heart has always been passionate for the arts.
Irene, an indigenous Naga from the Ao tribe of Nagaland India, boasts a varied career in the business world. From working along others in trading precious metals in India, the international office of a renowned coffee company in Lausanne, in the medical devices field and the satellite industry, she has a wide spectrum of experience. She began as an avid writer with a masters in English literature and has always dabbled in visual arts and design.
About David
Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you really want to do in life. Having that “eureka” moment when you realise you can combine the things you love to do the most and make a career out of it. In my case it was painting, teaching, and hiking. Funny how the answer can be right in front of your nose all along!
I’ll be your artistic guide in the studio on our nature outings helping you not only discover the technical side of painting but inspiring you to find your creative voice. It’s our hope that your time with us will be more than just a fun thing to do. Come and join us and immerse yourself in amazing natural beauty and uncover a side of yourself you always knew was there!
David Rees-Thomas, originally from Hawai’i who is half Swiss and half Kiwi, has been a practicing artist and art teacher for over 25 years. He refined and deepened his passion for drawing and painting (with a smattering of sculpture, photography, and printmaking) during his BFA at the National Art School in Sydney, Australia. He branched out into video, performance, installation, and public interventionist practices from his experiences during his Master’s at the MAPS programme at the EDHEA Art and Design school in Sierre, Switzerland. He now works and lives in the ‘Suisse Romand’ region of Switzerland and travels whenever the chance arises.