Artist finds British success

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 25

Artist finds British success

By

TONY VERDON

in London

New Zealand-born artist Robert Walls is staging an exhibition of his watercolours at Henley-on-Thames, west of London. Mr Walls, who has lived in London since 1960, was born and educated in Wellington.

After 17 years working at sea, and as a shipping representative in Tonga and the Cook Islands, be began studying at the Chelsea School of Art in 1960. He lived off the proceeds of his paintings in Britain until 12 years ago, when be began working

as a curator at the British Museum. However, Mr Walls, who is returning home for a trip shortly, has decided to resume exhibiting his work. The exhibition is made up of 50 works, mainly landscapes. Most of the paintings are of rural

scenes in Yorkshire and the Peek District Walls has had a large number of exhibitions in Britain, and has also shown in Spain and Italy. One of his landscapes is held by the National Gallery in Wellington, while many private collectors also have his work.

Among the organisations he has sold paintings to are the Contemporary Art Society,' Unilever, the • Financial Times, the Unitersity College Hospital, and the Trust House Hotels chain.

Walls says he hopes to do some painting while on holiday in New Zealand.