A ‘first’ by N.Z. artist

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 18

A ‘first’ by N.Z. artist

NZPA staff correspondent London The first one-man exhibition in London by the international New Zealand Artist, Raymond Ching, has opened at a West End gallery. Mr Ching, who was bom in Wellington, and whose paintings and sketches of birds have gained him a worldwide reputation, now lives most of the year in the south of England. ' The exhibition, “Bird Paintings and Sketches,” is on show at a natural history gallery. The 18 oil paintings, eight

water-colours, and 26 pencil sketches which make up the exhibition appear in Mr Ching’s two books, “Studies and Sketches of a Bird Painter,” and “The Bird Painting.” Mr Ching’s New Zealand origins dominate the exhibition as the majority of the birds on show are natives of either New Zealand or Australia. The most expensive work is an oil of a kiwi which has been sold for $NZ12,075. The lowest price is for a pencil drawing, "Grey Hornbill,” at SNZS7S. One of the directors of the

gallery, Mr David Bigham, said that so far only one of the works had been sold to a New Zealand buyer. A large water-colour, "Black Swan,” will probably go to a New Zealand gallery. He said that demand for the picture had been so strong that the prospective buyers had to ballot for the right of g purchase. “It is not often that you get someone of the calibre of Ray Ching painting within your lifetime,” he said. “You might have to wait a few generations to get someone painting birds as he does,” said Mr Bigham.