Gareth Williams

Brief Biography

I was born in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand and grew up in Auckland. After finishing at Auckland Grammar School, I studied at Massey University in Palmerston North and graduated with a Diploma of Horticulture. I then studied at the University of Auckland and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Early in life I took to gardening and painting. My first plant was a New Zealand native mountain cedar (Kaikawaka) carefully grown from a seedling. It died early on, but I persevered and started to learn the difficult art of horticulture. This interest later turned into a career and I worked with the a couple of nursery businesses and then the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in Advisory Services. I left this career, and for ten years I worked in training and audit. in 1994 Itravelled extensively in Europe and Asia. I then decided to quit my job, rent out my four bedroom house, give my cats away, and move to London. I went back to horticulture and worked as a gardener and a self-employed landscaper for over 20 years. I retired from self employment in 2014.

I started drawing and sketching when I was very young, taking my sketch book out on walks. I developed an interest in printmaking and had my own “Print Room” under the stairs, at eleven years old, and made screen prints and mono prints. I started painting seriously from the age of 24 under the tutorship of Ruth Coyle, a retired artist (a former member of the ‘Rutland Group’ circa 1950 *). Ruth taught me to draw from basics (yes they don't teach you much in school!), in charcoal, pen and wash and traditional oil painting. Subsequently, I studied painting and photography under various other tutors in nightclasses including Kevin Passmore and Peter Waddell.

* Refer: http://www.listener.co.nz/culture/blanche-ruth-and-the-rutland-group/

Artistic influences

I have chosen not to make a career of art, but I paint for my own satisfaction and for family and friends. I have always had a studio to retire to and spend many hours a week painting. My recent artistic influences are the Italian artist Giorgio Morandi (who was famous for still-life semi-abstractions) and the British artist Howard Hodgkin (who paints in large loose brush strokes of memory based abstractions). I like to paint in a loose, semi-abstract style, and its important to me that each painting doesn't look too laboured or over-worked. The paintings are lyrical and often relate to personal stories about each place.

Travel

I found that having London as a base has enabled me to travel extensively throughout the UK, where the flora and fauna fascinate me, and also enjoy easy access to Continental Europe and beyond. My travels have often been creatively very stimulating and the destinations have often become good sources of subject matter. Living in Brighton for seven years made access to the Sussex coast and countryside easy and inspired different subject matter. Now I am back in London and have different sources of inspiration.

Past Exhibitions

Images of India 1999 London

In Xanadu 2000 London

Incident Light 2001 Auckland

New Zealand Landscapes 2001 London

Open Studio 2004 London

Recent Paintings 2008 Auckland

Green Chilli with Everything 2009 Auckland

A Place to Hide 2010 London

Small Things 2012 Waiheke Island

Glass Shapes and Colour Scapes 2012 Auckland

From Here to the Loire 2016 Brighton

Elephants in Kemptown 2017 Brighton

The Memory of the Flowers 2017 London

From Seven Sisters Out to the Downs 2017 Birling Gap

The Aim of this Website

The aim of this website is to show recent and some past works and to get your feedback. Some pictures on the website are available for purchase but most, sadly, are already sold. Just email me at williamsgaretha@gmail.com or phone me on +44 7811 100569.

Comments:

"Gareth, I just looked at your website. I really enjoyed seeing what you had included and it feels like a true representation of what I know of you - left me with a warm happy feeling (most unusual for me and computers) thanks."

Bunty J, Melbourne, Australia

"I love your work. The quiet Easter sketch particularly appealed to me. I'm looking at my own Gareth Williams now, 'Apartment 31', a treasured possession."

Caroline L, Waimate North, New Zealand

"Thanks so much for sending me this link, I really enjoyed your biography, the pictures and sketches. If you want to take photos of the pictures that I have, you are more than welcome to do so, I would love it."

Melanie C, Hove, England

"I do love your Loire valley painting. Can I please buy it and if you wish, bring it here and paint some more."

Michele S, Pontlevoy, France

"I love your website! Thank you for adding a little bit more beauty to our lives!"

Jane D, London, England

"The paintings are so beautiful and also the elephants, which are being auctioned by Gareth for such a good cause, are superb."

Elaine W, Brookeborough, Northern Ireland.

"I just had a look at your website, Gareth, and I love seeing your art...I get so inspired, thanks so much. I wish I could draw as well as you."

Willow F, Smiths Lake, Australia

"Congratulations on your exhibition. You have lots of energy to do things. How smart you are. Your paintings are so fabulous!"

Supapun C, Bangkok, Thailand

"Gareth is a landscape genius."

Julie W, Auckland, New Zealand

"I love the atmosphere that Gareth creates and you can feel the love that goes into his paintings."

Alanna Mc, Brighton, England

"I had a chance to go through Gareth's website. Very impressive. I am not much of an art critic... but suffice to say I am a fan of his urban landscapes and portraits. I would be honoured if he were to choose me as a subject!"

Veneet M, Dubai, UAE

"Gareth, grazie per avermi mandato il link alla tua web page. Sai quanto mi piace il tuo lavoro e che ho un paio dei tuoi quadri appesi alle pareti del mio salotto a Bologna. In particolare, mi piacciono i tuoi paesaggi, ma apprezzo tutto della tua arte

Thank you, Gareth for sending me the link to your webpage. As you know I do appreciate your work and I have a couple of paintings hanging on the wall of my living room in Bologna. I am particularly fond of your landscapes, but I really love all of your art."

Diego P, Bologna, Italy