I have painted off and on, since 1972, and still have a loyal following of collectors who purchased my works back in the early years, but it wasn't until 1990 I that I closed my business to concentrate solely on painting. I am largely self taught... more by necessity than design. (There are no classical art schools in NZ). However under the private tuition of several internationally recognized artists, namely A.M.E. Bale Prize Winner Chris Browne, and Paul Hunt,( who was commissioned to paint a portrait of (then) Prince Charles) I learnt drawing, an the correct handling of paint. From them I learnt to paint in the classical realist technique as taught in the academic Ateliers of the 19th century. I honed my painting skills, and went full-time in 1991.
In 1997 Peter Jackson added two of my paintings to his collection. This was the beginning of an ongoing relationship with members of the film community. I have numerous paintings hanging in the homes of a number of well known international identities. I have also done some film and TV work, the most significant being four portrait paintings for the first installment Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit trilogies. To my profound embarrassment images of these paintings were displayed(floor to ceiling) on the stage at the Academy Awards as Peter Jackson was presented with his Oscar.
For the first15 years I painted solely on commission, and very rarely exhibited in art galleries. My commissions range from formal public portraits of army officers, scientists, mayors, cabinet ministers, headmasters etc, to intimate private portraits of loved ones.
In 2006 I had my first one man exhibition, opened by Academy Award winner Sir Richard Taylor, and participated in many joint, and solo exhibitions since.
My wife and I are involved in bird rescue. Between us we have hand reared everything from blackbirds ( my wife singlehandedly fed 50 babies in one season......each one, individually, every hour!), to Kotare (NZ Sacred Kingfishers), and Tuis ( the unique NZ native with the double voice-box, able to not only mimic, but sound exactly like the sound, or person it mimics). This love of birds has inspired me to produce a considerable number of paintings of NZ natives, as well as many sparrows!
Disclaimer: No birds were harmed in the production of any of my paintings