Russell Winterburn

Russell John Winterburn is a full-time self-taught oil Portrait and landscape artist specialising in realism. Inspired from an early age by his great-grandfather’s landscapes, he was a surveyor and artist, Winterburn discovered he had an ability to sketch accurate portraits. Leaving Kapiti College in 1960, he joined the Air Force as a communications technician, but didn’t begin painting until 1968 while working as a T V technician in Wellington. An associate inspired him by showing his self-taught paintings of English coastal scenes.

Initially painting seascapes around Wellington, Russell soon turned to figurative and portrait painting. Moving to Ōmokoroa in 1970, he combined raising a family with T.V work and part-time painting. His scenes, seascapes and portraits sold at Harrisons Gallery Tauranga.

Later his work sold at the Blue Penguin Gallery, Bay of Islands, also Fishers Gallery in Parnell and Christchurch. A commission to paint the Māori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu led to many other commissions, such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir John Graham, Sir Colin Meads, and Sir William Gallagher. Later, equine portraits of Sir Tristram, Phar Lap etc. were sought after.

His Māori portraits were exhibited by Fishers Gallery in New Zealand House, London. Currently exhibiting at Central Art Gallery in Queenstown.

Other links:

• Website