Grahame Sydney

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Grahame Sydney is a major New Zealand artist. He is best known for his magnificent landscapes of Central Otago, many of which hang in public and private collections in New Zealand and abroad. Such is the universal appeal of Sydney's work that his paintings are owned by Elton John, Nelson Mandela and Sam Neill.

"It seems to me that the essentials of landscape are seen with the heart. There's a lot of feeling in his work, but it's not up front, it's not indulgent, it's not demanding of emotion - but there's a lot of emotional tension there in the paintings." Owen Marshall.

Sydney's latest art book, "The Art of Grahame Sydney", scooped the pool at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2000 winning the Montana Medal, the top non-fiction prize, the Reader's Choice Award and the Illustrative Arts category. The book gives a comprehensive survey of Sydney's enormously varied body of work. Included are 143 reproductions and 9 photographs. "The Art of Grahame Sydney" is already into its fourth print run.

The much-loved, award winning book "Timeless Land", featuring a number of Sydney landscapes, has taken on an almost classic status, selling out two print runs and a limited edition print. First published in 1995, it is a passionate portrayal of the Central Otago region by Sydney and his great mates - poet Brian Turner and writer Owen Marshall, with an introduction by actor Sam Neill.

Sydney fans are more widespread than most - art appreciators, owners of his work, but also ardent South Islanders, those nostalgic for the south, and keen admirers of his popular and poignant images. Such is the popularity of his work that his paintings are sold to a private waiting list, and many have never been seen publicly. His lithographs are eagerly awaited and quickly sell out. Few can afford the original paintings, and the reproduced art prints of his work have sold in their thousands.

The New Zealand iconic, "Rozzie at Pisa", now hangs in the New Zealand national gallery, Te Papa Tongarewa and one of Sydney's recent works - a self-portrait at 50 - has been purchased by Christchurch's Robert McDougall Gallery. Sydney works from his Central Otago studio and continues his sporting and fitness interests. He exhibits rarely, but a major 25 year retrospective, "Regions of the Heart", opened at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in November 1999, and a touring version "On the Road" toured major public galleries around New Zealand for the two years following.