This video is made with the support of NZ on Air Public Interest Journalism Fund.

Steve Christian believes he was put on this earth to be an artist.

It’s what brings him the most joy - fulfilling the dream he has held since childhood of trying to make a living from his creations.

But as Christian puts it “emptying my cup before I could fill it again.”

In a relationship where his passion wasn’t supported, Christian waited until after his daughter had grown up and left home and then decided to put his dreams first.

He set off on his own to make his art - losing everything along the way. Undeterred, Christian took to living on the street. 

Being homeless hasn’t been without its scary moments, and he’s been living in his car for years now.

But he’s happy.

“Most people would say I was doing the worst thing I could possibly do, but it actually turned out to be the best thing.”

Christian can be found on the streets of Mount Maunganui selling his art, sharing his talent with an appreciative audience.  

“A lot of people respect me for what I’m doing, most homeless people are just sitting on the ground with a handout. But they see me trying to earn a living, trying to do something about my situation.”

Christian will continue to see his art and follow his dream of ‘being discovered’ and becoming someone who can earn a genuine living from his art. Life on the street isn’t easy, but Steve Christian would rather live a life that is true to himself than a comfortable one where he can’t express himself.