Amber Gabrielle Stephens began 'Depiction Portraits' in 2003 as a self taught painter. She was awarded a young enterprise scholarship to open her business in Wellington and thus began a lifelong relationship with painting people and animals. Curious to study the 'old master' techniques Amber travelled to Austria and was given a rare place at The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna where she studied painting under professor Edwin Bohatch. Amber simultaneously started a dance company whilst studying in Vienna, naturally anatomy and movement heavily informed her painting subject and style.
Choreography and paintings inspired by dance became Amber's main point of focus over the next years touring and performing, as well as exhibiting abstract paintings. Yet portraiture always remained a deep passion. In 2013, Amber decided to turn more attention to portraits and began painting NZ icons such as master chef Josh Emmett, businessman/philanthropist Sir Eon Edgar, BMX champion Sarah Walker and Paralympic multi gold medalist, Sophie Pascoe. Meeting Sophie led to Amber partnering with Paralympics NZ, creating the series of 12 portraits of NZ Paralympians for the Rio 2016 games. It was opened by prime minister John Key and the paintings toured 80 cities and towns across Aotearoa celebrating and promoting the athletes.

Saska, Amber's beloved border collie has been a source of love and inspiration and now more than ever Amber wishes to bring her passion for animals to the brush and give other animal parents something that has depth and meaning and will last forever.