Warwick Lidgard

I have painted since the 1950s. By the 1990s watercolours were largely put aside for acrylics and oils. In the mid 1950s I attended Colin McCahon’s classes at Auckland Art Gallery and Paula McNeill’s classes in Whitianga. I have held several exhibitions at the Pumphouse in Auckland, and the Upstairs Gallery in Whitianga.

I was president of Auckland Studio Potters (1978-79) and a foundation member of Albany Village Pottery. I also established a pottery studio at Rings Beach while continuing to paint in watercolours at the same time.

I have been working with clay for about 30 years now both in New Zealand and overseas. This year I have been looking into colour and textures. My work is very bright and unique.

One off original hand painted sculptures to functional domestic wear. I use both wheel thrown and hand building techniques.

Getting "back into the paints" after years of landscape design has meant I can reflect my surroundings in acrylic paints and graphite pencil rather than mould them with structures and plants. I am often on or overlooking an ocean or sea and the water has always been a big influence on my life and works.

My current works are on plywood, canvas and paper and recently I've been exploring the colour of light. I'm tending towards the abstract and hoping to leave an impression with the viewer of "I've been there or felt that myself.”