MR. T. L. DRUMMOND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 22 (Supplement)

MR. T. L. DRUMMOND.

This gentleman hails from Moray shire, in the north of Scotland. We know little of his birth and early training, except that he is entirely self-taught, and did very little painting before he came to settle in this colony. He prides himself on being self-taught, and like many another clever man, thinks that the true artist is born, not made, and that nothing teaches a man like his own mistakes. But though this is true to a certain extent, we should be sorry to endorse it entirely, for it seems to us that a little careful training must save a good deal of time and many sore disappointments. The man who does everything for himself must needs be very strong and very determined. Mr Drummond is one of the oldest members of the Auckland Art Society, and a regular exhibitor there. We reproduce two of his pictures.

But his lameness put an end to the active life he loved so well, and he settled down in Oamaru as a general book-keeper. Here he devoted all his spare time to the study of painting, receiving much friendly encouragement In 1886 he went to Melbourne, and remained there for eight years, painting pictures of New Zealand scenery for the dealers, studying meantime in the public galleries and at the great Melbourne Art Exhibition. At this time he also studied Ruskin's works. During the last four years of his residence in Melbourne he had a number of pupils, and did a good deal of sketching from Nature. The general collapse of trade in Melbourne affected artists as well as other people, and Mr Veitch returned to New Zealand. Since that time he has been all over the two islands sketching and painting, his most interesting experiences being connected with the Maoris in and around

always assured him that by going inside the cage he would get a more " life like expression." Mr Veitch's other work has been of the most varied character, like his experiences, and includes some excellent portraits, one being that of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonnel, painted some time before his death ; and another, that of Colonel Sir Vivian Mayendie, C.B. His last work represents a storm on Lake Wakatipu.