BIO
Hawkins Biggins is a visual storyteller who discovered her love of photography in high school. After graduating from Boston’s New England School of Photography, she was delighted to return home to Oʻahu in 2008 to pursue a life behind the lens. Since then, she has worked as a commercial photographer, fine artist, and dedicated photography teacher.
For more than a decade, Hawkins has shared her passion for seeing creatively through workshops, photowalks, and community classes throughout Honolulu. She especially enjoyed teaching middle school students at her alma mater, Mid-Pacific Institute, where she encouraged young artists to explore visual expression each summer (2014-2024). Since 2022, she has taught smartphone photography at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, inspiring adults to engage deeply with everyday beauty.
When she is not immersed in photography, you’ll likely find Hawkins playing board games with her teenage son, on photowalks her iPhone camera, savoring a good book, planning her next travel adventure, or hitting the trails—muddy boots and all—to connect with nature.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Hawkins is drawn to photographing nature and the urban environment because it mirrors the dichotomy of modern life—the tension between isolation and intimacy. Her work seeks moments of connection and subtle order within the often chaotic landscape of life.
In her recent digital art explorations, she uses layering techniques in Photoshop to distill the three-dimensional experience into a single frame. By blending elements found in nature or architecture, her composite images merge her physical world, reducing them to their elements of color, shape, texture, and form. The result is a heightened sense of place—one that invites viewers to reconsider the environments they inhabit.
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
Upcoming
2026
Intro to Smartphone Architectural Photography at the Liljestrand House
2025
iPhone Photography Tips with Hawaii Macintosh & Apple Users Society
Intro to Smartphone Photography, Advanced iPhone Photography & Photography & Bookmaking Workshop at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawai’i at Manoa Fall Semester
Moving Beyond the Snapshot fall workshop with Garden Club of Honolulu
Smartphone Photography & Bookmaking at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawai’i at Manoa Summer Semester
Intro to Smartphone Architectural Photography Workshop at The Liljestrand House on Tantalus, Oahu, Hawai’i
Advanced Smartphone Photography Class at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawai’i at Manoa Spring Semester
Smartphone Photography Class at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawai’i at Manoa Spring Semester
2024
Smartphone Photography Class at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawaii at Manoa Fall Semester
2023
iPhone Photography Class at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawaii at Manoa Spring Semester
2022
Developing Your Creative Eye: Photography & Lightroom Class at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Hawaii at Manoa Fall Semester
2016
Showcasing Your Projects Through Photography at the Building Industry Association of Hawaii Headquarters in Waipahu on Oahu
2015
Exploring Architectural Photography: Historic Kaka’ako Photography Workshop and Tour Historic Hawaii Foundation and Kaka’ako Agora, Honolulu, Hawaii
2014
Botanical Photography Tips at Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Photo Book Design Class and the Art of Seeing, Summer School Sessions at Mid Pacific Institute, Manoa, Hawaii (6 week classes Summer 2014 - 2024)
ARTISTS TALKS
2026
The Art of Photography: Exploring where I am now and how I got here for the Garden Club of Honolulu
2024
Composite Imagery and Native vs. Invasive Species Series - Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa
2023
iPhone Photography & Photoshop Express for Hawaii Macintosh & Apple Users Society Annual Mactoberfest Event in Honolulu Hawai’i
2017
Phone Photography 101: Creating Compositions Along the Trail - Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, Waimanalo Clubhouse, Hawai’i
2013
Aim & Shoot: Find Your Photographer’s Eye - National League of American Penwomen Honolulu Branch Pen Women Meeting at Alan Wongs in Ala Moana Shopping Center, Hawai’i
WORK IN SELECTED COLLECTIONS/PUBLICATIONS
Park, Ward Village Project, Kaka’ako, Oahu, Hawai’i, 2024
Ulana Condominium, Ward Village Project, Kaka’ako, Oahu, Hawai’i, 2025
Imago Mundi - Aloha Spirit Collection, 2017
Hawaii Civic: Historic Hawai’i Foundation booklet, 2014
SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITS
2025
Botanical - Juror: Wendi Schneider - PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - Downtown Art Center, Honolulu
Monochrome - Juror: Douglas Beasley - PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury
2024
Artists of Hawai’i - Juror: Tom Klobe - Downtown Art Center, Honolulu
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - Downtown Art Center, Honolulu
2023
Artists of Hawai’i - Juror: Tyler Cann - Downtown Art Center, Honolulu
2020
New Normal: Contemporary Photography from a Pandemic in the Pacific - The ARTS at Marks Garage
2019
Show Up! - Honolulu Country Club
2017
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu
Lost & Found - Honolulu Country Club
2016
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu
2008
Eco/Logic : hybrid exhibit: artists/activists/community - The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu
DARKNESS - Koa Art Gallery, Honolulu
SELECTED INVITATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITS
2022
Punahou Art Gallery Show - Punahou School, Honolulu
2019
Punahou Art Gallery Show - Punahou School, Honolulu
2018
Shaloha: A Jewish Women Artists Exhibition - HiSAM Museum Gallery Shop x Mori, Honolulu
2017
Mixed Media Miniature Show - Koa Art Gallery, Honolulu
2016
Phone Camera Show - The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu
2015
Redrawn, Reformed, Revealed, Remixed - Temple Emanu-El, Honolulu
2013
Small Photo Show - Fishcake, Honolulu
LIGHT - Pauahi Tower, Honolulu
Phone Camera Show - South Street Gallery, Honolulu
2012
Phone Camera Show - South Street Gallery, Honolulu
2012
Together - Honolulu Club
Exploring a Sense of Place - Spaulding House Café, Honolulu
2010
Phone Camera Show - Lama Library, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu
2009
The Architecture of Change: Exploring the Past within the Present - Hawaii Pacific University Art Gallery
2008
Ocean and Surf: Photographic interpretations of Hawaii’s Waters - Wolf Sub Zero, Honolulu
A Sense of Place: a six person photographic exploration of Hawai‘i - Koa Art Gallery, Honolulu
2005
Dreaming . . . Contemporary photographers working in COLOR - Wolf Sub Zero, Honolulu
2004
A Relative Affair: Featuring works by artists who are family members - Gallery ‘Iolani, Honolulu
SELECTED ONLINE EXHIBITS
2025
Botanical: The Art of Plants (Juror: Wendi Schneider) - PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
Monochrome (Juror: Douglas Beasley) - PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2021
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i 2021 - Pacific New Media, Honolulu
2020
Punahou Art Gallery Show - Punahou School, Honolulu
AWARDS
2025
Botanical - Honorable Mention, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2020
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - Kaimuki Camera Award, Honolulu
2016
Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i - Pegge Hopper Gallery Award, Honolulu