Although Harold Coop first exhibited in 1959 and has painted ever since, it is in recent years, following retirement as one of New Zealand's leading eye surgeons, that he has been able to fully pursue his artistic career.

Early watercolour landscapes of the 1970s and 1980s, while quite traditional in composition, frequently featured bright splashes of colour which has become something of a Coop trademark. The vivid reds and chrome yellows of these early paintings have, to a certain extent, been renegotiated in his later works.

From around 2001 we see the emergence of an exciting new style - strong abstract landscapes in acrylic and metallics. The emergence of this style was the partial result of Coop's travels during which he studied the combined use of gold and colour in such diverse forms as Russian icons, Egyptian artefacts, illuminated manuscripts and the paintings of Gustav Klimt. The contrasting washwork is influenced by a lifelong love of English watercolours by artists such as Cotman.

The School of Medicine at Auckland University houses Harold Coop's largest work to date - a six metre long illuminated mural featuring plastics culminating in a stained glass effect. Coop's work has been published in nationally released calendars and Australian Artist Magazine. He was a finalist in an International Artist magazine competition, and is one of 100 artists worldwide included in their 2004 book "100 Ways to Paint Seascapes, Rivers, and Lakes." The magazine, circulated in 63 countries, will have an article on his work in late 2007.

His own book, "A Vision of New Zealand," with 120 pages of colour reproduction, was released by Saint Publishing, Auckland, early in 2007. Coop's work features in many corporate and private collections both here and overseas.and is also included in the book "New Zealand's Favourite Artists," edited by Denis Robinson. (Saint Publishing.)