This artist is illustrating every place he visited during New Zealand lockdown | CNN

<strong>Painting New Zealand:</strong> When English artist Tom Napper got stuck in New Zealand during lockdown, he turned his unexpected year-plus stay into an art project documenting every place he visited.

Painting New Zealand: When English artist Tom Napper got stuck in New Zealand during lockdown, he turned his unexpected year-plus stay into an art project documenting every place he visited.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Bikepacking:</strong> Napper began his NZ visit by joining a month-long bike tour. By the end of the trip, the pandemic had begun.

Bikepacking: Napper began his NZ visit by joining a month-long bike tour. By the end of the trip, the pandemic had begun.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Te Rerenga Wairua:</strong> Also known as Cape Reinga, this area straddles the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. It was here that Napper began his journey.

Te Rerenga Wairua: Also known as Cape Reinga, this area straddles the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. It was here that Napper began his journey.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Balclutha:</strong> This South Island town is where Napper was visiting friends and found out his flight back to the UK was postponed indefinitely.

Balclutha: This South Island town is where Napper was visiting friends and found out his flight back to the UK was postponed indefinitely.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Queenstown:</strong> Napper spent weeks in the tourism capital drawing attractions like the Queenstown Clocktower.

Queenstown: Napper spent weeks in the tourism capital drawing attractions like the Queenstown Clocktower.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>The Church of the Good Shepherd:</strong> This scenic church is located on the edge of a lake in Tekapo.

The Church of the Good Shepherd: This scenic church is located on the edge of a lake in Tekapo.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Miranda:</strong> This nature area is popular with birds and cows.

Miranda: This nature area is popular with birds and cows.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Earnslaw Burn:</strong> The reward for this overnight hike? Views like these.

Earnslaw Burn: The reward for this overnight hike? Views like these.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Glenorchy:</strong> This pretty small town is an easy day trip from Queenstown.

Glenorchy: This pretty small town is an easy day trip from Queenstown.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>The Remarkables:</strong> Also near Queenstown, head here for skiing and amazing scenic views.

The Remarkables: Also near Queenstown, head here for skiing and amazing scenic views.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Mount Burns:</strong> This is a popular Southland day hike.

Mount Burns: This is a popular Southland day hike.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>The Catlins:</strong> This stretch of coastline is on the South Island.

The Catlins: This stretch of coastline is on the South Island.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Steampunk HQ: </strong>This arts collective is one of the most popular places to visit in Oamaru.

Steampunk HQ: This arts collective is one of the most popular places to visit in Oamaru.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Lake Rotoroa:</strong> This lake is surrounded by the greenery of Nelson Lakes National Park.

Lake Rotoroa: This lake is surrounded by the greenery of Nelson Lakes National Park.

Courtesy Tom Napper

<strong>Bridge to Nowhere:</strong> This bridge, inside Whanganui National Park, has also become a metaphor for Napper's unexpected sojourn in his new adopted country.

Bridge to Nowhere: This bridge, inside Whanganui National Park, has also become a metaphor for Napper's unexpected sojourn in his new adopted country.

Courtesy Tom Napper

Tom Napper's paintings of New Zealand

CNN —

In 2020, Tom Napper was scared to embark on his first solo vacation.

In 2021, Tom Napper is considering never having a permanent address ever again.

The English-born artist and graphic designer was so nervous about traveling by himself that he decided to join a group bike tour through New Zealand, where he’d have lots of natural opportunities to mingle with the other riders and make new friends.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which slammed New Zealand’s borders shut indefinitely the day before he was supposed to fly back to London, changed Napper’s plans – and his life.

How it started

Napper arrived in New Zealand on February 16, 2020 to take part in Tour Aotearoa, an organized bike tour where about a thousand travelers “bikepack” along 3,000 km (about 1,860 miles) of trails throughout the country. The trail begins at Cape Reinga (also known by its Māori name Te Rerenga Wairua) on the North Island and ends at Bluff on the southern tip of the South Island, and on average takes about 30 days to complete.

Participants are asked to take photos of each stop along the way to confirm that they’re following the route, but Napper asked for and got permission to do his visual check-ins as illustrations instead. Little did he know that these paintings would turn into a long-term project.

After completing the ride, Napper headed to the town of Balclutha to meet up with a college friend. The visit turned out to be anything but a nice chance to unwind before catching his flight home.

Napper's drawing of the The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo.

Courtesy Tom Napper

“It turns out while I was cycling down New Zealand, the rest of the world was falling to pieces.”

Napper had to make a quick decision – try to book it home on an emergency flight, or wait out what he thought would be a quick closure in New Zealand. He chose the latter. As of publication, he is now applying for his fourth and presumably final extended tourist visa.

His initial 30 days have now turned into 15 months and counting, and the 30 paintings of stops along the bike route have become a long-term project to document all the places he has visited in New Zealand.